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ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS! 



DISCOVERY 



EXPLANATION 



OF THJ5 



SOURCE OF THE PHENOMENA GENERALLY KNOWN 



IROCHESTEK KNOCKINGS. 



Here's a knocking indeed ! * * * * * Knock ! knock ! knock ! * * * * * 

Who's there i' the name o' Beelzebub ? * * * Who's there i' the devil's name ? 

Knock ! knock ! knock ! 

Macbeth. 



BUFFALO: 
GEORGE H, DERBY ASD CO., PUBLISHERS. 

NE W YORK: 
WM. H. GRAHAM AND CO. 



d 



1851. 



,t> 



PUBLISHER'S NOTICE. 

To meet the wishes of many who have expressed curiosity to know some- 
thing further respecting the exposition of the Rochester Knocking^ than is 
contained in the communication published in the Buffalo Commercial Ad- 
vertiser, February 17th, 1851, the undersigned have republished the edi- 
torial article contained in the Buffalo Medical Journal, of March 1851, to 
which a few notes have been added, and an appendix containing several articles 
relating to the subject, which it is thought will interest the reader. 

GEO. H. DERBY & CO. 

ftW-For Contents see third page of Cover. Jg£8 



ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS! 



DISCOVERY 



EXPLANATION 



SOURCE OF THE PHENOMENA GENERALLY KNOWN 



ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 



Here's a knocking indeed !***** Knock ! knock ! knock !***** 

Who's there i' the name o' BeeLzebub ? * * * Who's there i' the devil's name ? 

Knock ! knock I knock ! 

Macbeth. 



BUFFALO : 

GEORGE H- DERBY AND CO., PUBLISHERS. 

NEW YORK: 
WM. H. GRAHAM AND CO. 

1851. 



.#> 



tf$fr 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by 
GEORGE H. DERBY & CO., 

In the Clerk's Office of the Northern District of New York. 



STEAM PRESS OF JEWETT, THOMAS & Co., 

COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER OFFICE, 

BUFFALO, N. Y. 



DISCOVERY 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER BLOCKINGS. 



Nee Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus, 
Inciderit " — 

Horace, Epis. ad Pisones. 



[From the Buffalo McdiealJournal, No. for March, 1851.] 

All our readers have heard of the Rochester Knockings that have occa- 
sioned not a little stir in different parts of the country during the past two 
or three years. The knockings were first manifested in a family of the 
name of Fox, then residing in a small town in the western part of this 
State, and the removal of this family, shortly afterward, to Rochester, 
whence have emanated many of the marvelous stories connected with the 
subject, has secured for that city the honor of forming the adjective in the 
title by which they are commonly mentioned. The knockings, however, 
have not been confined to Rochester, but have been heard in some other 
places. They accompany members of the Fox family in their peregrina- 
tions, of course, but we understand that other persons than those belonging 
to this family have assumed to be media for similar supernatural manifes- 
tations. (A.) 

Being regarded by the' credulous and superstitious as phenomena pro- 
duced by the agency of departed spirits, indicating their presence, and 
furnishing a means of communication with them, it is not singular that, 
however ridiculous the subject may seem to persons of well balanced 
minds, to those of a different mental cast it assumes a different aspect, and 
becomes invested with great interest and importance. In every commu- 
nity persons are to be found who are fond of indulging and cultivating a 



4 DISCOVERY OF THE 

love for the marvelous, and who are ready to believe that a supernatu- 
ral agency is involved in whatever transcends their comprehension. Such 
tendencies are by no means found in connection exclusively with low intel- 
lectual powers and small attainments. On the contrary, it is not infre- 
quently the case that persons of education, of reflection, and even of supe- 
rior mental endowments in some respects, are led astray by what appeals 
strongly to the mental qualities underlying an unfortunate excess of credu- 
lity. The chicaneries of mesmerism, the faith inspired by revelations like 
those of Davis, etc., sufficiently attest the truth of the remark just made. 
We might also quote, as illustrations, the transient success of homoeopathy, 
and other kindred medical delusions. The annals of every age furnish 
abundance of examples, showing the absurd extravagances into which men 
may be led who allow unrestrained scope to the imaginative and supersti- 
tious elements of the mental constitution ; showing, also, the astonishing 
extent to which cunning impostors are able to take advantage of these ele- 
ments of human character. Based, as are the various delusions, imposi- 
tions, and humbugs, that prove successful, upon qualities of mind which it 
is not to be expected will soon cease to be predominant in certain individu- 
als, albeit science and knowledge are progressively advancing, and despite 
the accumulated lessons of experience, we are not to suppose that the 
future, more than the past and present, will be devoid of instances exem- 
plifying human weakness and folly like that to which reference has been 
made. (B.) But to return to the Rochester hiockings. We have not taken 
pains to ascertain how extensively belief in their supernatural character 
has prevailed. Many of our readers are probably better informed on this 
point than, ourselves, as our pursuits do not permit us to keep up with the 
times in matters of this kind. That many well meaning persons have been 
beguiled and carried away with this subject, we know, and that not a little 
time, money, thought, and feeling, have been expended in the efforts to 
hold communion, by rappings, with inhabitants of the spirit world, is a 
fact but too apparent to any one who looks into newspapers. The impo- 
sition, unfortunately, is not to be considered merely a successful but harm- 
less experiment on the exhaustless fund of human credulity. Among other 
serious consequences, we have been told that several cases of insanity have 
originated in the mental excitement occasioned by fancied intercourse with 
the spirits of departed friends. 

The imposition, which had already escaped detection for several years, 
would still find plenty of dupes, if the mysterious sounds were to continue 
unaccounted for. The absurdity of the professed spirituality of the block- 
ings can undoubtedly be fully proved in a variety of modes, but the only 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 5 

effectual preventive of the farther progress of the humbug is to determine 
satisfactorily their nature and source. To do this is to strike at the root 
of the delusion, by rendering it as ridiculous as the explanation is simple. 
We are not aware that the curious and (in other than a literal sense) strik- 
ing phenomena have been, as yet, accounted for. To what extent they 
have been made the subject of investigation, by physicians, we cannot say. 
As we are prepared to unravel the mystery, we trust our readers will not 
think the subject unworthy the space which we propose to devote to it, 
more especially as the sounds possess interest in a physiological point of 
view, apart from the remarkable imposition to which they have been made 
subservient. 

Two members of the celebrated family of Rochester knockers, recently 
made their debut in this city, accompanied by the noisy spirits, and com- 
menced operations, drawing crowds of visitors, at a dollar a head, many of 
whom were impressed with the wonderful revelations interpreted from the 
raps, and several intelligent persons became converts to the doctrine of the 
spiritual origin of the sounds. From motives of curiosity we were led, with 
some of our colleagues, to pay them a visit, and, we must confess, we were 
surprised and puzzled by the loudness of the sounds, the apparent eviden- 
ces of non-instrumentality on the part of the females, and the different 
directions from which they seemed to emanate. Close observation, how- 
ever, of the countenances and deportment of the two females, led to the 
conviction that the production of the sounds involved a voluntary effort by 
the younger sister of the two — a girl about seventeen years of age, the 
elder sister (who is said to be a widow) being about thirty-five. The lat- 
ter was apparently the managing partner, conducting the spiritual commu- 
nications, while the former, it was clear, was the performer, i. e., the one 
that produced the knockings. Assuming the above as a point of departure, 
by the process of reasoning given below, the diagnosis was, that the sounds 
must necessarily be articular. This conclusion, and the process by which 
it was arrived at, were stated to a number of persons directly after the 
visit. The question, then, was, how such sounds could come from joints. 
The snapping of the phalangal joints of one hand by lateral motions made 
with the other hand, is familiar to every one. Some persons have the 
power to produce the same snapping by means of the muscles inserted into 
the phalangal bones, without any aid from the other hand. Dislocated 
bones return to their place witb an audible snap, as all surgeons know. A 
patient once consulted us for a loud noise in his joint produced by walking. 
Almost every one has occasionally, by an accidental oblique movement of 



6 DISCOVERY OF THE 

the lower extremities, caused a loud report in the knee joint. These facts 
suggested themselves, but works on physiology, anatomy, and dislocations, 
were consulted, in vain, for any account of loud noises like the Rochester 
knockings originating in the articulations. While pursuing these inquiries, 
which had been unexpectedly provoked, we chanced to meet with a person 
who said that his wife could produce similar sounds. He did not then 
know in what way they were produced; his wife had, in jest, kept him in 
ignorance on this point. At our request he immediately went home to 
ascertain, and returned with the information that the noise came from the 
knee joint, and that we were at liberty to satisfy ourselves with respect to 
this fact, and also of the mode in which they were produced. Accordingly* 
at first alone, and afterward accompanied by Drs. Lee and Coventry, (in 
concert with whom the prior investigations were conducted,) we visited the 
lady referred to, and on the following day the subjoined exposition was com- 
municated for one of the daily papers of the city.* 

To the Editor of the Commercial Advertiser: 

Curiosity having led us to visit the room at the Phelps House in which 
two females from Rochester, (Mrs. Fish and Miss Fox,) profess to exhibit 
striking manifestations of the spiritual world, by means of which commu- 
nion may be held with deceased friends, &c, and having arrived at a phy- 
siological explanation of the phenomena, the correctness of which has been 
demonstrated in an instance that has since fallen under observation, we have 
felt that a public statement is called for, which may perhaps serve to pre- 
vent further waste of time, money, and credulity, (to say nothing of senti- 
ment and philosophy,) in connection with this so long successful imposition., 

The explanation is reached, almost by a logical necessity, on the applica- 
tion of a method of reasoning much resorted to in the diagnosis of diseases, 
viz : reasoning by way of exclusion. It was reached by this method prior 
to the demonstration which has subsequently occurred. 

It is to be assumed, first, that the manifestations are not to be regarded 
as spiritual, provided they can be physically, or physiologically accounted 
for. Immaterial agencies are not to be invoked until material agencies 

* In transferring that communication to our columns, we have corrected an error in 
the account of the displacement of the joint which produces the sounds. The exposi- 
tion was drawn up hastily, and published at once, in order to check, as promptly as prac- 
ticable, the farther progress of the imposition, and the mechanism was not so fully ascer- 
tained, as it has been by subsequent examinations. We will thank editors of medical 
Journals who may notice this matter to copy the anatomical explanation from this arti- 
cle, and not from the newspaper, and to make the correction referred to, should they 
have already quoted the first statement. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 7 

fail. We are thus to exclude spiritual causation in this stage of the inves- 
tigation. 

Next, it is taken for granted that the rappings are not produced by arti- 
ficial contrivances about the persons of the females, which may be con- 
cealed by the dress. This hypothesis is excluded, because it is understood 
that the females have been repeatedly and carefully examined by lady 
committees. 

It is obvious that the rappings are not caused by machinery attached to 
tables, doors, etc., for they are heard in different rooms, and different parts 
of the same room, in which the females are present, but always near the 
spot where the females are stationed. This mechanical hypothesis is then 
to be excluded. 

So much for negative evidence, and now for what positively relates to 
the subject. 

On carefully observing the countenances of the two females, it was evi- 
dent that the sounds were due to the agency of the younger sister, and 
that they involved an effort of the will. She evidently attempted to con- 
ceal any indications of voluntary effort, but in this she did not succeed : — 
a volutary effort was manifest, and it was plain that it could not be con- 
tinued very long without fatigue. 

Assuming, then, this positive fact, the inquiry arises, how can the will 
be exerted to produce sounds (rappings) without obvious movements of the 
body ? The voluntary muscles are the only organs (save those whieh be- 
long to the mind itself) over which volition can exert any direct control. 
But the contractions of the muscles do not, in the muscles themselves, 
occasion obvious sounds. The muscles, therefore, to develop audible vibra- 
tions, must act upon parts with which they are connected. Now, it was 
sufficiently clear that the rappings were not vocal sounds: these could 
not be produced without movements of the respiratory muscles, which 
would at once lead to detection. Hence, excluding vocal sounds, the only 
possible source of the noises in question, produced, as we have seen they 
must be, by voluntary muscular contractions, as in one or more of the mo- 
vable articulations of the skeleton. From the anatomical connections of 
the voluntary muscles, this explanation remains as the only alternative. 

By an analysis prosecuted in this manner, we arrive at the conviction 
that the rappings, assuming that they are not spiritual, are produced, by 
the action of the will, through voluntary muscles, upon the joints. (C.) 

Various facts may be cited to show that the motion of joints, under cer- 
tain circumstances, is adequate to produce the phenomena of the rappings; 



8 DISCOVERY OF THE 

but we need not now refer to these. By a curious coincidence, after ar- 
riving at the above conclusion respecting the source of the sounds, an 
instance has fallen under our observation, which demonstrates the fact, that 
noises precisely identical with the spiritual rappings may be produced in 
the knee joint. 

A highly respectable lady of this city, possesses the ability to develope 
sounds similar, both in character and degree, to those professedly elicited 
by the Rochester imposters, from the spiritual world. We have witnessed 
the production of the sounds by the lady referred to, and have been per- 
mitted to examine the mechanism by which they are produced. Without 
entering, at this time, into a minute anatomical and physiological explana- 
tion, it is sufficient to state that, owing to relaxation of the ligaments of the 
knee joint, by means of muscular action and pressure of the lower extre- 
mity against a point of resistance, the large bone of the leg (the tibia) is 
moved laterally upon the lower surface of the thigh bone (the femur) 
giving rise, in fact, to partial lateral dislocation. This is effected by an act 
of the will, without any obvious movement of the limb, occasioning a loud 
noise, and the return of the bone to its place is attended by a second sound. 
Most of the Rochester rappings are also double. It is practicable, how- 
ever, to produce a single sound, by moving the bone out of place with the 
requisite quickness and force and allowing it to slide slowly back, in which 
case it is noiseless. 

The visible vibrations of articles in the room situated near the operator, 
occur, if the limb, or any portion of the body, is in contact with them at 
the time the sounds are produced. The force of the semi- dislocation of 
the bone is sufficient to occasion distinct jarring of doors, tables, etc., if in 
contact. The intensity of the sound may be varied in proportion to the 
force of the muscular contractions, and this will render the apparent source 
of the rappings more or less distinct. 

We have witnessed repetitions of experiments in the case just referred 
to, sufficient to exhibit to us all the phenomena of sounds belonging to the 
Rochester rappings, and without further explanations at this time, we ap- 
pend our names in testimony of the facts contained in the foregoing hastily 
penned exposition.* 

University ) AUSTIN FLINT, M. D., 
of V CHARLES A. LEE, M. D., 

Feb. 17, 1851. Buffalo. ) C. B. COVENTRY, M. D. 

* The object in publishing the above communication was to prevent (if possible) the 
farther progress of what, if the facts set forth in the exposition are credited, cannot 
but be deemed a gross and pernicious, as well as a remarkable imposition. Fully 
satisfied of the verity of the explanation submitted, the subscribers did not hesitate to 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 9 

The disclosure announced in the foregoing communication occasioned 
not a little excitement among those who had become interested in the 
knochings. The correctness of the explanation was not only called in 
question by these, but was doubted by many who had not hesitated to 
look upon the matter as a gross deception. The Rochester Ladies, of 
course, stoutly denied the imputation that the sounds proceeded from the 
joints, or were produced by any agency of theirs, and, the next day, they 
inserted in the daily papers the following card: — (D.) 

ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 

To Docts. Flint, Coventry and Lee: 

Gents, — We observe by a communication in the Commercial Adverti- 
ser, that you have recently made an examination of a highly respectable 
lady of this city, by which you have discovered the secret of the " Roches- 
ter Imposters." As we do not feel willing to rest under the imputation of 
being imposters, we are very willing to undergo a proper and decent 
examination, provided we can select three male and three female friends 
who shall be present on the occasion. 

We can assure the public that there is no one more anxious than our- 
selves to discover the origin of these mysterious manifestations. If they 
can be explained on " anatomical" and " physiological" principles, it is due 
to the world that the investigation be made, and that the " humbug " be 
exposed. As there seems to be much interest manifested by the public 
on this subject, we would suggest that as early an investigation as is con- 
venient would be acceptable to the undersigned. 

Ann L. Fish. 
Margaretta Fox. 

The invitation thus proffered was accepted by those to whom it was ad- 
dressed, and on the following evening, by appointment, the examination 
took place. After a short delay, the two Rochester females being seated 
on a sofa, the knockings commenced, and were continued for some time in 
loud tones and rapid succession. The " spirits" were then asked " whether 
they would manifest themselves during the sitting and respond to inter- 
rogatories." A series of raps followed, which were interpreted into a re- 



treat the imposition as such, and to call it by its right name. " Good motives and justi- 
fiable ends" seemed to require this course. In so doing, however, we have no desire 
to judge, or make war with individuals. We leave those concerned in the imposition 
to the tribunal of conscience. 

The communication is dated from the University of Buffalo. It is hardly necessary 
to say, that, by this, it was intended, simply, to express to those readers to whom the 
names of the subscribers were unknown, the fact that they are connected with the 
University. It was not expected that any one would infer the exposition to have ema- 
nated from the University, or that the University could in any way be compromised by 
it. This statement is made to avoid an occasion for misconception. For the merit or 
demerit of the exposition, the persons whose names are thereto appended are alone re- 
sponsible. 



10 DISCOVERY OF THE 

ply in the affirmative. The two females were then seated upon two chairs 
placed near together, their heels resting on cushions, their lower limbs 
extended, with the toes elevated and the feet separated from each other. 
The object in this experiment was to secure a position in which the liga- 
ments of the knee joint should be made tense, and no opportunity offered 
to make pressure with the foot. We were pretty well satisfied that the 
displacement of the bones requisite for the sounds could not be effected 
unless a fulcrum were obtained by resting one foot upon the other, or on 
some resisting body. 

The company, seated in a semi-circle, quietly waited for the " manifesta- 
tions" for more than half an hour, but the " spirits," generally so noisy, 
were now dumb. The position of the younger sister was then changed to 
a sitting posture, with the lower limbs extended on the sofa, the elder sis- 
ter sitting, in the customary way, at the other extremity of the sofa. The 
" spirits" did not choose to signify their presence under these circumstan- 
ces, although repeatedly requested so to do. The latter experiment went 
to confirm the belief that the younger sister alone produces the rappings. 
These experiments were continued until the females themselves admitted 
that it was useless to continue them longer at that time, with any expecta- 
tion of manifestations being made. 

In resuming the usual position on the sofa, the feet resting on the floor, 
hiockings very soon began to be heard. It was then suggested that some 
other experiment be made. This was assented to, notwithstanding the first 
was, in our minds, amply conclusive. The experiment selected was, that the 
knees of the two females should be firmly grasped, with the hands so applied 
that any lateral movement of the bones would be perceptible to the touch. 
The pressure was made through the dress. It was not expected to prevent 
the sounds, but to ascertain if they proceeded from the knee joint. It is ob- 
vious that this experiment was necessarily far less demonstrative, to an ob- 
server, than the first, because if the bones were distinctly felt to move, the 
only evidence of this fact would be the testimony of those whose hands 
were in contact with them. The hands were kept in apposition for several 
minutes at a time, and the experiment repeated frequently, for the course 
of an hour, or more, with negative results : that is to say, there were plenty 
of raps when the knees were not held, and none when the hands were ap- 
plied save once, as the pressure was intentionally somewhat relaxed. (Dr. 
Lee being the holder,) two or three faint, single raps were heard, and Dr. 
Lee immediately averred that the motion of the bone was plainly percep- 
tible to him. The experiment of seizing the knees as quickly as possible 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 11 

when the knockings first commenced, was tried several times, but always 
with the effect of putting an immediate quietus upon the manifestations. 

The proposition to bandage the knees was then discussed. This experi- 
ment was objected to, on the part of the friends of the females, unless we 
would concede that it should be an exclusive test experiment. We were 
not prepared with appliances to render the limb immovable, and therefore 
declined to have it considered such a test. This was the experiment anti- 
cipated, and one which, we presume, the females thought would end in 
their triumph. A bandage applied above and below the patella, admitting 
of flexion of the limb, will probably not prevent the displacement, as we 
have but little doubt had been ascertained by the Rochester females be- 
fore an examination was invited. Should it become necessary to repeat 
experiments in other places, in furtherance of the explosion of the imposi- 
tion, we would suggest that the bandage be not relied upon. Plenty of 
roller, with lateral splints, firmly applied, so as to keep the limbs extended, 
and render the joints immovable, would doubtless succeed in arresting 
sounds so far as they involve the knee joint. It will be observed that, in 
our exposition, we do not claim that this joint is exclusively the source of 
sounds, and had our experiments, which were first directed to this joint, 
failed, we should have proceeded to interrogate, experimentally, other arti- 
culations. This, however, as the reader will note, seemed quite unneces- 
sary. The conclusion seemed clear that the Rochester knockings emanate 
from the knee joint. 

Since the exposition was published, we have heard of several cases in 
which movements of the bones, entering into other articulations, are pro- 
duced by muscular effort, giving rise to sounds. We have heard of a per- 
son who can develop knockings from the ankle, of several who can produce 
noises with the joints of the toes and fingers, of one who can render loudly 
audible the shoulder, and another the hip joint. We have also heard of 
two additional cases in which sounds are produced by the knee joint. We 
have not, as yet, had an opportunity to make a personal examination in 
any of these cases, or to hear the sounds. The exposure of the imposition 
opens a new and curious field of physiological inquiry, and we would com- 
mend the subject to those who have leisure and facilities for prosecuting 
it. Articular, as well as articulated sounds, seem to claim an investigation 
which they have not heretofore received. Had the facts which the detec- 
tion of this trick has developed, been contained in anatomical or physiolo- 
gical treatises, the progress of the deception would have been arrested long 
ere this. Doubtless these facts are not entirely new — they must have been 



12 DISCOVERY OF THE 

observed in other cases, the histories of which have escaped record. That 
sounds so loud should originate in the way we have ascertained that they 
are produced, would surprise even the medical listener, and perhaps seem 
almost incredible. It is readily conceivable how, to other than medical lis- 
teners, the phenomena should appear, not only inexplicable, but in a high 
degree mysterious. The remark was made by many, after the explanation 
was published, that it required almost as much stretch of the imagination to 
believe that such sounds could be produced in joints, as that they involved 
a supernatural agency. The anatomical conformation of the knee joint is 
evidently most favorable for the production of loud sounds by displacement. 
The broad articular surfaces offer considerable space for lateral motion, 
provided the ligaments are sufficiently relaxed, and the requisite motor 
force is properly applied. The relative shortness of the outer condyl of 
the femur favors the outward displacement, and true dislocation in this 
direction would be likely to occur, were it not for the numerous strong liga- 
ments which render this the strongest articulation in the body. Owing to 
the great protection afforded by the ligaments against injuries, to which, 
from the position and relations of this joint, it is particularly exposed, dislo- 
cations are, in fact, very rare in their occurrence. The displacement oc- 
casioning the knockings is sufficient to remove the ridge of bone which 
divides the two articular surfaces of the upper extremity of the tibia, from 
its situation in the sulcus between the condyls of the femur, and to carry 
it, more or less, upon the surface of the outer condyl. This movement 
gives rise to the first sound, and the return of the bone to its place causes 
the second sound, which, in the Rochester knockings, generally follows 
quickly upon the first. We are unable to explain fully the precise mecha- 
nism by which the displacement is effected. In the case of the lady of 
this city who reproduces the spiritual rappings, the bone slips outward 
with very slight voluntary effort, and it is not easy, from her own account, 
or by manual exploration, to determine the particular muscles that are 
brought to bear upon the joint. In this case the displacement occasionally 
occurs, in bending the limb, when no effort is made to produce it, but, under 
these circumstances, it is not generally attended with much noise. The 
bone returns to its place directly the muscular effort which has produced 
the displacement ceases. To develop sound the displacement must take 
place with a certain quickness and force, and the latter may be graduated, 
in some measure, at will. A fulcrum for the foot appears also to be requi- 
site, as already stated. The lady just referred to is now able to produce 
the sounds in one knee only. In early life she had this power in both 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 13 

knees. From the number and volume of sounds produced, it is evident 
that both the knees of the Rochester rappers now in this city are endowed 
with sonorous powers. It might be supposed that the frequent repeti- 
tions of these displacements would produce, after a time, irritation and dis- 
ease within the joint. In the case of the lady of this city they are fol- 
lowed by some soreness, but in early life, when she was in the habit of 
practising them daily, more or less, she experienced no pain, nor any un- 
pleasant consequences, and she was then able to develop louder sounds 
than she can at present. How rare are instances of that peculiarity in the 
condition of the joint, which admits of the audible phenomena, that have 
given origin to the new science of spiritual Tappings, we are unable to say. 
That they are not common, is evident from the fact that the Rochester 
imposture has eluded detection so long; and that instances of a similar 
idiosyncrasy do occur, is shown by the fact that several rappers have ap- 
peared in different parts of the country. It is a sad commentary on hu- 
man nature, that the latter should prefer to have adopted, and carried on, 
the imposition, when they discovered their peculiar power, rather than dis- 
close the secret, and thus put a_stop to the progress of the deception. 
Mrs. P., the lady of this city, to whom we are much indebted for the 
means of establishing the exposure to the satisfaction of the public, thus, 
deserves honorable mention, and the thanks of the community. (E.) A diffi- 
culty with some persons who have visited the Rochester rappers, in believ- 
ing the sounds to be articular, arises from the idea that the raps come from 
different quarters of the room, at a distance from the place at which the 
females are stationed. This difficulty involves several explanatory circum- 
stances. In the first place, the sounds do not really come from a distance. 
It may seem that this is so, but it is a delusion, arising from not apprecia- 
ting, correctly, some of the laws of acoustics. We do not ordinarily deter- 
mine the direction from which aural impressions are received, save by the 
conjoined exercise of other senses. Variations in the supposed distance of 
the source of sound may be imitated, simply by variations in intensity of 
the .sound, provided the source be not obvious to other senses than hear- 
ing. Upon these principles the deceptions of the ventriloquist are based. 
The ventriloquist does not transmit his voice in different directions, and at 
various distances, as is vulgarly supposed, but he graduates its intensity so 
as to make it appear more or less remote, concealing, at the same time, all 
the external evidences that he makes the sounds, and he relies upon direct- 
ing, by his conversation, the attention of the audience to particular places, 
for the success of his effort to make it appear that the sounds proceed 



14 DISCOVERY GF THE 

from these places. The knee knockings are muffled by the dress, and the 
slight movements are also thus concealed; hence, females make the best 
impostors in this line. The raps are then conducted by whatever solid 
substances are in contact with the limb, or body. The Rochester knockers 
prefer that their visitors should be seated around a long table, they sitting 
at one extremity of the table. Placing the limb, then, in contact with any 
part of the table, the knockings seem to be upon the latter. But if the 
limb is in contact only with the floor, the sounds will appear to come from 
below. The Rochester females, when they wish to give exhibitions of the 
sounds, sometimes stand near a door. If they touch the door with a limb, 
or rest against it, the sounds seem to come from the door, and the door 
may be felt to vibrate. If they stand at a little distance from the door, 
the sounds appear to come from below. The raps do not, in reality, ever 
appear to come from much distance, unless the delusion is aided by a vivid 
imagination, or a degree of credulousness very easily operated on. The 
loudness of the sounds will, aside from the degree of motive power and 
quickness by which the displacement is effected, depend on the conducting 
properties of different bodies in contact.* 

That part of this scheme of imposition, which relates to the communi- 
cations made by means of the knockings, opens a field of curious inquiry, 
not devoid of interest and importance. Admitting that the sounds are 
shown to be physically produced, and dependent on the volition of those 
engaged in conducting the deception, some, who have been impressed by 
the degree of penetration manifested in the accuracy of certain of the 
responses, and the striking character of the fancied revelations, will ask, 
i How are these phenomena to be accounted for ? ' In accounts that have 
been published by many — we doubt not well-meaning and, on most subjects, 
sensible persons — there are statements which, to the reader who does not 
see fit to deny in toto the veracity and intelligence of the narrators, 
certainly must appear extraordinary.f We do not propose to discuss at 
length this view of the subject. To do this does not belong to us, aud 
would be inappropriate in the pages of a medical journal. We will offer 
but a few remarks. 

Having traced the knockings to their source, explained the mechanism 

* See, in appendix, letter of Prof. Lee to Editor of N. Y. Tribune for the laws of 
sound relating to this subject. 

t The reader who may have any curiosity to read accounts of some of the marvel- 
lous revelations that have been published, is referred to the two works mentioned in 
note (A.) 



SOURCE OP THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 15 

of their production, and thus divested them of their supernatural character 
and of all mystery, the field of inquiry, just referred to, presents an aspect 
different from that which it had prior to the exposition. While the origin 
of the sounds was unknown, the belief in their spiritual derivation would 
be entertained by those whose mental constitution and habits favored 
credulity in such matters, and the communications would be received with 
a corresponding degree of faith ; and even some, not over credulous 
persons, might reason themselves into the conviction that the sounds must 
be due to intelligent, invisible spirits, from the apparent utter impossi- 
bility of accounting, on any other hypothesis, for the information thereby 
obtained. But assuming that the deception is unmasked, and the mode 
in which it is conducted satisfactorily explained, it follows, of course, that 
the communications. are part and parcel of the humbug, and it only remains 
to show how it is that they are of a character to occasion surprise and 
astonishment. This question might be disposed of, so far as the present 
subject is concerned, by saying that phenomena of the same character, 
and equally extraordinary, occur in connection with fortune-telling, into 
which it is not professed that spiritual agencies enter, and which no one 
supposes to involve aught beyond human sagacity. The question covers 
all the various modes of imparting pretended supernatural revelations. 

Much is due to the laws of probabilities alone — in other words, many of 
the wonders are coincidencies, which always occur in a series of random 
guesses* This plain fact is not always recollected, viz : That whenever a 
response involves either an affirmative or negative, the chances that it will 
be right or wrong are exactly equal. Guesses under such circumstances, 
in the long run, will be as often true as false. It may be admitted, 
however, that the whole philosophy of the matter is not resolvable into 
the laws of probabilities: other reasons must therefore be given. — 
Several reasons suggest themselves, some of which we will mention, 
without attempting to assign to them, respectively, their precise force. 

A person of close observation and great shrewdness, can acquire a degree 
of skill in furnishing communications purporting to be spiritual, which can 
hardly be appreciated by one who has not given much thought to the 
subject. This is a kind of acquirement not sought for, except by those 
who mean to make it subservient to deception ; and, therefore, by most 
persons is but little understood. Let an individual of proper capacity, 
make it a business to study the significance of every slight movement, 
intonation of voice, and expression of countenance, as criteria of concealed 
thoughts, and let this pursuit be prosecuted for years, under the incentives 



16 DISCOVERY OF THE 

afforded by the love of gain or applause, and the fear of detection, and 
the tact thus acquired, will be likely to develop results that appear almost 
incredible, and by the superstitious are regarded as divinations. This is one 
consideration to which not a little weight belongs. (F.) 

Another explanatory consideration is as follows : Persons resorting to 
oracular communications, in proportion as their minds became excited, and 
full credence secured, can hardly fail to exhibit, in various ways, indications 
which are so many clues by which a practiced observer is led to apprehend 
facts supposed to be completely hidden. A person, who has been much 
interested in the Tcnochings, and who believes that there exists a kind of 
mesmeric relation between the females and the questioners, by means of 
which the knowledge of the latter is perceived by the former, informed 
us that he observed those persons who had full faith that they should 
obtain true responses, generally got them, while those who were incredulous 
were unsuccessful. We do not doubt the correctness of this observation, 
and it is fully explained by reference to the consideration just stated. 

They, too, who become converts, are anxious to explain any errors and 
incongruities in the Sibyline responses, and are ready to accept expla- 
nations, which are only pertinent, by a large latitude of construction. They 
have an eager desire that what they seek to have communicated shall be 
communicated, and are ready to adopt any kind of interpretation which 
will secure the credit of the spirit which condescends to hold intercourse 
with them. It is sufficiently obvious to those who have made the art of 
discovering truth by observation a subject of study, that a pre-coneeived 
notion often gives a bias even to the exercise of the senses. Not a few of 
the false facts of science are thus derived. Persons are apt to see 
precisely what they have pre-determined they shall see. How much 
more is it to be expected that this self-deception will be operative, when, 
instead of the sober realities of scientific research, the credulous mind is 
in pursuit of information to be imparted by miraculous means ! (G.) 

Again, the impression produced by successful hits in any of the arts of 
soothsaying or conjuration, is naturally greater than is consistent with a 
due regard to the failures. The number of the latter is forgotten, while 
the former are remembered, and thus acquire an undue preponderance. — 
More especially this consideration will apply to the prodigies related in 
written narratives, taking cognizance of those things which are only won- 
derful when isolated. The principle is the same as that upon which 
certificates of secret nostrums appeal to the confidence of the public. 
Admitting the certificates to be authentic, and even true in point of fac 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 17 

we have only the extraordinary cures, without any of the host of cases in 
which the effect of the remedy was either nugatory or pernicious. These 
cases may predominate immensely over those in which benefit was 
attributed, while the latter, if considered exclusively, seem to furnish an 
overwnelming mass of evidence. 

We might add to these considerations, others ; but we have already said 
more upon this branch of the subject than we had intended, and perhaps more 
than the indulgence of our readers will lead them to excuse. We must offer 
as an apology for according to the subject so much space, in addition to the 
reasons before assigned, the personal interest in it growing out of the part we 
have taken in the detection and disclosure of the source of the Rochester 
Knockings. In engaging in this investigation, we literally followed the scrip- 
tural injunction, to '^believe not every spirit, but try the spirits." The re- 
sult is an exposition, the correctness of which rests, in the first place, upon a 
train of reasoning which we claim to be in itself conclusive ; and, in the 
second place, upon demonstrative evidence, tested by experiments which 
may be readily repeated and extended in all places where the knockings 
may be re-produced. It remains to see whether this result will succeed in 
bringing the career of this singular species of imposture to a close, and thu 
to say the least, diverting the current of credulity into some new channel. 

Certain physical phenomena in addition to the knockings, are said 
to be occasionally produced in connection with the latter; such as moving 
of tables and chairs; opening and shutting bureau drawers; pulling the 
hair, etc., of persons assembled to witness the exhibition, and various other 
palpable demonstrations of what is claimed to be an unknown and myste- 
rious agency. With regard to these phenomena we have only to say that 
none of them have fallen under our observation, nor are we aware that 
any have, as yet, been exhibited in this city, although we understand it has 
been intimated that they will appear by and by. Assuming that such phe- 
nomena do take place, we leave for others the task of explaining the mecha- 
nism by which they are produced. 



NOTES 



Note A, Page 3. — The curiosity of some of our readers may lead 
them to desire further particulars respecting the rise and progress of this 
remarkable imposition. We copy the following account from a publication 
entitled " History of the strange sounds or rappings, heard in Rochester 
and Western New York, and usually called the Mysterious Noises, which 
are supposed by many to be communications from the spirit world, together 
with all the explanation that can as yet be given of the matter."* 

" The sounds were first heard in a small village named Hydesville, in the 
town of Arcadia, Wayne county, New York. The house where they were 
heard was occupied, during a part of the years 1846 and 1847, by Mr. 
Michael Weekman. During this time, Mr. W. states that, one evening 
about nine o'clock, as he was preparing to retire for the night, he heard a 
rapping on the out-side door. He opened it, but saw no one. In a few 
moments, the rapping on the door was repeated, and was louder than at 
first. He immediately stepped to the door, and opened it; no person was 
to be seen. He went into the street, and looked about the house, and re- 
urned, without seeing any one. Soon the noise was repeated, and, failing, 
to see any person, he placed his hand on the latch of the door, in order to 
open it immediately, should the annoyance be continued. Again the rap- 
ping was heard — he felt the door jar, and sprang into the street. No per- 
son was to be seen any where in the vicinity. 

" Excepting a manifestation to the daughter of Mr. W., then some eight 
years old, nothing unusual is reported to have been seen on heard by him 
while he occupied the premises. 

"The family of Mr. John D. Fox moved into the house on the 11th of 
December, 1847. Their former residence was Rochester. They heard 

* Published by D. M, Dewey, Arcade Hall, Rochester, March, 1850. 



20 DISCOVERY OF THE 

the rapping first, the latter part of March, 1848, one evening, after they had 
retired for the night. It seemed to be in one of the bedrooms, and sounded 
as though some one was knocking on the floor, moving chairs, &c. Four 
or five members of the family were at home, and they all got up, to ascer- 
tain the cause of the noise. Every part of the house was searched, yet 
nothing could be discovered. A perceptible jar was felt by putting their 
hands on the bedsteads and chairs ; a jar was also experienced while stand- 
ing on the floor. The noise was continued that night as long as any one 
was awake in the house. The following evening they were heard as before 7 
and on the evening of the 21st of March, the neighbors were called in for 
the first time. 

" The following is an extract from Mrs. Fox's statement, made soon after 
the occurrences narrated took place ; 

" ' On Friday night, we concluded to go to bed early, and not let it dis- 
turb us; if it came, we thought we would not mind it, but try and get a 
good night's rest. My husband was here on all these occasions, heard the 
noise, and helped search. It was very early when we went to bed on this 
night; hardly dark. We went to bed so early, because we had been 
broken so much of our rest, that I was almost sick. 

" ' My husband had not gone to bed when we first heard the noise on 
this evening. I had just laid down. It commenced as usual. I knew it 
from all other noises I had ever heard in the house. The girls, who slept 
in the other bed in the room, heard the noise, and tried to make a similar 
noise by snapping their lingers. The youngest girl is about twelve years 
old; she is the one who made her hand go. As fast as she made the noise 
with her hands or fingers, the sound was followed up in the room. It did 
not sound any different at that time, only it made the same number of 
noises that the girl did. When she stopped, the sound itself stopped for a 
short time. 

" ' The other girl, who is in her fifteenth year, then spoke in sport, and 
said, 'Now Oo just as I do. Count one, two, three, four/ &c, striking one 
hand in the other at the same time. The blows which she made were re- 
peated as before. It appeared to answer her by repeating every blow that 
she made. She only did so once. She then began to be startled; and 
then I spoke and said to the noise, ' count ten,' and it made ten strokes or 
noises. Then I asked the ages of my different children successively, and it 
gave a number of raps, corresponding to the ages of my children. 

" ' I then asked if it was a human being that was making the noise ? and 
if it was, to manifest it by the same noise. There was no noise. I then 
asked if it was a spirit ? and if it was, to manifest it by two sounds. I heard 
two sounds as soon as the words were spoken. I then asked, if it was an 
injured spirit, to give me the sound, and I heard the rapping distinctly. I 
then asked if it was injured in this house ? and it manifested it by the noise. 
If the person was living that injured it? and got the same answer. I then 
ascertained, by the same method that its remains were buried under the 
dwelling, and how old it was. When I asked how many years old it was ? 



SOURCE OP THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 21 

it rapped 31 times; that it was a male; that it had left a family of five 
children ; that it had two sons and three daughters, all living. I asked if 
it left a wife? and it rapped. If its wife was then living? no rapping; if 
she was dead ? and the rapping was distinctly heard ; how long it had been 
dead ? and it rapped twice.' 

" Mrs Fox asked if the noises would continue if she called in the neigh- 
bors that they might hear it ? There was rapping the same as when i^ 
was supposed affirmative answers were given. Mrs. Redfield, the nearest 
neighbor, was first called. The children had informed her previously, that 
strange noises were heard in the house, and she went, thinking to have some 
sport with the family. She found the girls very much agitated. Mrs. Fox 
said, ' Mrs. Redfield, what shall we do ? We have heard the noise for 
some time, and now it answers all our questions, and we cannot account 
for it' 

" Mrs. R. heard the sounds, and commenced asking questions, which were 
answered correctly, greatly to her astonishment. She says the girls con- 
tinued to be much frightened, and she told them not to be afraid ; if it was 
a revelation from the spirit world, it was not to injure them. One of the 
girls said with much feeling, — ' We are innocent — how good it is to have a 
clear conscience." ( ! !) 

" Messrs. Redfield, Duesler, Hyde, Jewell, and their wives were sub- 
sequently called during the same evening. They asked many questions, 
and received answers. Questions relating to the age, number of children, 
<fec, of the persons present, are said to have been answered correctly. Mr. 
Fox and Mr. Redfield remained in the house during the night. Mrs. Fox 
and her daughters spent the night at the house of one of the neighbors. 

" A report of the strange noises heard in the house of Mr. Fox, spread 
throughout that part of the town the next (Saturday) morning, and a large 
number of persons assembled, and remained at the house during the day. 
No noises were heard until evening, when the sounds commenced as before. 
A committee was appointed to investigate the matter, and a great variety 
of questions were asked and answered. 

" On Sunday morning, April 2d, the sounds were heard, and they con- 
tinued to be made throughout the day. This is the first instance in which 
they are reported to have been heard in the day time. Sunday evening, 
and throughout that night, no noises were heard. 

" Several individuals received answers to questions intimating that a 
murder had been committed in the house, and that the body was buried in 



22 DISCOVERY OF THE 

the cellar. The following statement relating to this matter is signed by Mh 
Wm. Duesler. 

" ' I went over again on Sunday, between one and two o'clock, P. M. I 
went into the cellar with several others, and had them all leave the house 
over our heads ; and then I asked, if there had been a man buried in that 
cellar, to manifest it by rapping, or any other noise or sign ? The moment 
I asked the questions, there was a sound like the falling of a stick, about a 
foot long and half an inch through, on the floor in the bedroom over our 
heads. It did not seem to bound at all ; there was but one sound. I then 
told Stephen Smith to go right up and examine the room, and see if he 
could discover the cause of the noise. He came back and said he could 
discover nothing, — that there was no one in the room, or in that part of the 
house. I then asked two more questions, and it rapped in the usual way. 
We all then went up stairs, and made a thorough search around the rooms, 
but could find nothing. 

" 'I then got a knife and a fork, and tried to see if I could make the 
same noise by dropping them, but I could not. This was all I heard on 
Sunday. There is only one floor, or partition, or thickness, between the 
bed-room and the cellar — no place where any thing could be secreted to 
make the noise. When this noise was heard in the bed-room, I could feel a 
slight tremulous motion or jar. 

" * There was some digging in the cellar on Saturday night. They dug 
until they came to water, and then gave it up. The question had been 
previously asked, whether it was right that they should dig on that night ? 
and there was no rapping. Then, whether it was wrong ? and the rapping 
was heard. Whether they should dig on Sunday ? no rapping ; on Mon- 
day ? and the rapping commenced again. However, some insisted on dig- 
ging at this time, and dug accordingly, but with no success. 

" ' On Monday night heard this noise again, and asked the same ques- 
tions I did before, and got the same answers. This is the last time I have 
heard the rapping. I can in no way account for this singular noise, 
which I and others have heard. It is a mystery to me, which I am wholly 
unable to solve. I am willing to testify under oath that I did not make 
the noises or rapping which I and others heard; that I do not know of 
any person who did or could have made them ; that I have spent consider- 
able time since then, in order to satisfy myself as to the cause of it, but can- 
not account for it on any other ground than it is supernatural. I lived in 
the same house about seven years ago, and at that time never heard any 
noises of the kind in and about the premises. * * * 

" * I never believed in haunted houses, or heard or saw any thing but 
what I could account for before ; but this I cannot account for. 

(Signed) Wm. Duesler. 

" 'April 12, 1848/ 

" In a pamphlet, published at Canandaigua, in 1848, by E. E. Lewis, cer- 
tificates corroborating the foregoing statements are given, signed by the 
following persons : 

" 'John D. Fox, Walter Scotten, Elizabeth Jewel, Lorren Tenney, 
James Bridger, Chauncey P. Losey, Benjamin F. Clarke, Elizabeth Fox, 
Vernelia Culver, William D. Storer, Marvin P. Loser, David S. Fox, and 
Mary Reduclcr/ 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER BLOCKINGS. 23 

" At one time, when those investigating wished to ascertain a certain 
name, the spirit was asked if it would rap for the initial letters when they 
were named. The reply was in the affirmative ; and when the alphabet 
was called over, there was rapping at particular letters. Soon the experi- 
ment was carried still farther, and by request entire names and sentences 
of considerable length were spelled out A signal for the alphabet is made 
when the spirit desires to communicate in this way. The signal is five raps 
in quick succession. 

" The following brief statement in regard to the manner in which the 
use of the alphabet, in these communications, was ascertained, is signed by 
several members of the family : 

" ' During the first inquiries to learn the name of the person who was re- 
presented as the injured spirit, it was asked if it would rap at the initials of 
his name. It rapped in the affirmative, and on calling over the letters, it 
rapped at the letters C. R. ; and at a subsequent period, David Fox, one of 
the family, spent several hours in communication with it, and learned the 
whole name ; and afterwards Mrs. A. S. Fish learned that five successive 
raps was an indication, or signal, to repeat the alphabet, when questions 
were asked, to which a simple negative or affirmative would not be a cor- 
rect reply without qualification. 

" ' It is thus that directions are now given in answer to questions ; and 
often it voluntarily calls by the signal for the alphabet, and communicates 
entire sentences, many of them interesting, and of considerable length. 

" « Mrs. Ann L. Fish, 
Mrs. Margaret Fox, 
C. R. Brown, 

« 'Rochester, March 6th, 1850. David S. Fox.' 

" Soon after the occurrence of the events heretofore related, a part of the 
family removed from Hydesville to Rochester, and resided with an older 
sister — Mrs. Fish — who has been a resident of the city some years. The 
rappings were then heard in both places, and communications were as 
readily made in one place as in the other. It may here be remarked, that 
when the sounds first began to attract attention, and during the inve stiga 
tion at Hydesville, they were heard in the presence of any member of the 
Fox family. They were also distinctly and repeatedly heard by persons 
who were examining the house when every member of the family was 
absent. 

" It was not long, however, before the noises were made more freely in 
the presence of the two youngest girls, one named Margaretta, the other 
Catharine. When the noises first commenced, Margaretta was about 
fourteen years of age, and Catharine about twelve. The elder of the two 
first removed to Rochester. The sounds were made freely when she was 
with her sister, Mrs. Fish." 



24 DISCOVERY GF THE 

The production of the rappings at Rochester having given rise to con- 
siderable excitement, a public meeting was called, and two committees? 
successively, chosen to investigate the matter. Ex-Chancellor Frederick 
Whittlesey, and Dr. H. H Longworthy, were members of one of these 
committees. Both committees failed to arrive at any rational explanation 
of the extraordinary sounds. 

Subsequently, as we learn from a publication entitled " Singular Reve- 
lations. Explanation and History of the mysterious communion with 
spirits, comprehending the rise and progress of the mysterious noises in 
Western New York, generally received as spiritual communications* the 
rappings have been heard in several families in Rochester, and in other 
places in the vicinity. They appear to have made considerable progress in 
Auburn. From the work just mentioned, we take the following extract? 
relating to their development in Auburn. 

'* The first of its being heard in this city was when the youngest 
daughter of Mr. Fox visited our boarding house. (!!) After she returned., 
it was heard for some time in the presence of several who had heard the 
sounds in her presence, and in a few months spread to several families, 
where it has gradually grown more free. Hardly a week passes without 
our receiving authentic information of some new place where these occur- 
rences have commenced. We are informed of at least six families in Au- 
burn, who hear more or less of the same sounds. 

" In almost every place where it has commenced, there has been at 
first but a few sounds, and generally much more faint than after it be- 
comes more common. 

" It is a very common occurrence in the family and social circles, to be 
talking of some matter connected with this strange development, or some 
kindred subjects, and for all in the room to hear a distinct rap — perhaps 
two or three — as if confirming what was said. This is generally the way 
it commence s at new places. 

" It may be proper here to remark, that persons of any considerable 
degree of investigating powers stand in no fear of being deceived, as the 
sounds have never yet been imitated, nor do we believe they can be. Per- 
sons who have heard but little of them, and who have very vivid imagina- 
tions and large organs of wonder, may, at times, mistake some other 
sounds for the genuine ones, or those produced by the spirits; but a per- 
son who is not over imaginative, never." 

The rappings have also been manifested in Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
and other sections of the country, of which we are not aware of any ac- 
counts having been published, save in newspapers, which are not at hand. 

The publications mentioned may be consulted by those who wish for 
a more detailed history of the progress of the imposition. Other works 

* By Eliab W. Capron and Henry D. Barron. Auburn, N. Y., published by Caproia 
& Barron. Second edition, 



SOURCE OP THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 25 

may have been published relating to the subject, which have not fallen 
under our notice. 

The Fox family, or a portion of the family, visited the city of New York 
a short time since, and were well patronised. Examinations were made in 
that city, with a view to detect the true source of the mysterious sounds, 
which proved unsuccessful. 

Note B, Pace 4. — It is often observed that persons who, on many sub- 
jects, display a skeptical turn of mind, are among the first to attach credit to 
what, by the majority, is deemed too absurd and improbable to be believed' 

And the opinions of such persons are sometimes permitted to have con- 
siderable weight, from the fact that they are supposed to be remarkably 
slow in adopting what admits of doubt. Writers on mental philosophy, we 
believe, unite in attributing to similar qualities of mind, an excess, both of 
skepticism and credulity. The old adage that ' extremes meet,' is here 
emphatically true. He who is excessively skeptical is, of necessity, credulous, 
and he who is noted as a credulous man in some things, will be likely to be 
a skeptic in others. Skepticism, in fact, may involve a far greater amount 
of credulity than belief. To reject the evidence of revealed religion, for 
example, requires a greater degree of credulousness.than the belief which is 
a legitimate result of a candid examination of this evidence. The principle 
in the philosophy of mind which has been stated, will serve to explain the 
apparent incongruity presented, when one who denies the miracles of the 
Bible, insists upon the spiritual origin of mysterious sounds ! 

Note C, Page 1. — In justice to a matter of fact, we re-affirm the as- 
sertion that the conviction of the knockings being due to the joints, was 
entertained prior to the instance in this city, which confirmed the correct- 
ness of the conviction, coming under our observation. We are aware that 
some colloquial critics have intimated that the instance just referred to was 
first observed, and the reasoning subsequently adopted. We could show 
the incorrectness of this assertion by several persons to whom the convic- 
tion was stated, together with the logical proof by which it was arrived at, 
on the afternoon and evening of the day of our first hearing the Rochester 
Knockings. The case that was met with on the day following, demonstra- 
ted the correctness of the conclusion already formed, but did not suggest 
or lead to them. We are not, however, the less under obligations for the 
opportunity which that case afforded of establishing our positions to the 
satisfaction of others. 

It may be said that this statement diminishes the force of the demonstra- 
tion, inasmuch as there is room for the supposition that the fact was ob- 



26 DISCOVERY OF THE 

served under the bias of a prior conclusion. If the fact of the essential 
identity of the rappings, in both cases, depended exclusively on our assertion, 
this would be a legitimate criticism, and should have weight with those, to 
say the least, who have not confidence in the observers from personal know- 
ledge. The sounds, however, have been heard and compared by several 
persons in every way competent to make observations of that nature, 
to whom the objection could not be made that they were already committed 
to an opinion as to the method in which the knockings were produced. 

We claim that the train of reasoning, to one acquainted with the human 
organism sufficiently to appreciate it, is conclusive, assuming that the sounds 
are not spiritual But some may say, and it has been said, ' you have no 
right to assume that the sounds are not produced by spirits/ It would be 
perfectly fair to meet this objection by saying that in so far as spiritual, or, 
in other words, miraculous interposition in the causation of physical phe- 
nomena is concerned, the burthen of proof lies exclusively with those who 
affirm its existence. And, in the nature of things, the existence of a spiritual 
causation cannot be proved, except by negative evidence. It does not 
admit of demonstrative proof in a scientific sense. It is, therefore, purely 
an assumption on the part of those who make the affirmation, until, to say 
the least, the phenomena referred to such a source, have been shown to be 
explicable in no other way. In making the knocking phenomena the sub- 
ject of investigation, we were perfectly right in excluding the spiritual 
hypothesis. Do we allow such an hypothesis in prosecuting a scientific in- 
vestigation of any physical phenomena ? Our scientific treatises would pre- 
sent quite a new aspect if, whenever any phenomena were found not to be 
resolvable into known laws, they were to be set down as the results of spe- 
cial volitions of spiritual existences ! 

We have reaffirmed the fact of the reasoning having preceded the demon- 
stration, simply because it is true, without reference to the question, whether 
the correctness of the exposition be strengthened or weakened by it. 

Note D, Page 9. — The "spirits," themselves, did not sustain the 
knockers in their denial, if the following anecdote be true, which we give, 
in substance, as it was related to us : — Shortly after the exposition ap- 
peared, several persons being assembled to hold communion with the rap- 
ping " spirits," one of the visitors inquired if the *- spirit " with which he 
was in communication would reply to a question which he had written, 
either affirmatively or negatively. Assent was signified by raps; and the 
" spirit " proceeded to rap at successive letters of the alphabet named, until 
yes was spelled. This denoted an affirmative reply to the question. The 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 27 

latter being now read, proved to be an inquiry whether the knockings were 
produced by the knee joint ! The " mediums," as they term themselves, 
however, have a resource in an emergency like this. The " spirits" they 
say, do not respond correctly, save to proper questions, asked with the ex- 
pectation of being truthfully answered. In other words, they are not to be 
trifled with. It is at once obvious that this is an expedient readily available 
in any failure when persons who have not full faith in the spirituality of the 
JcnocJcings are in communication. If persons are sufficiently credulous to 
have full faith, they will be ready enough to overlook failures, or to explain 
them away in some mode or other. The experience of the " mediums" has 
no doubt abundantly confirmed the truth of the latter remark. 

The same resource proves convenient in other difficulties. For example, 
when, at the examination invited by the tappers, to test the correctness of 
the exposition, the results fully substantiated the positions assumed, the 
only alternative was to throw the responsibility on the " spirits" These 
disembodied existences have their whims and humors like incarnate mortals. 
They do not choose to rap when the "mediums" are placed in positions in 
which, agreeably to the explanation offered, it would not be expected that 
JcnocJcings could be produced ; or under circumstances when the movements 
necessary to the sounds would be apparent ! ! 

It cannot, by the way, fail to strike the mind of every reflecting reader, 
that rapping is a very clumsy, not to say, discreditable way of holding spi- 
ritual communications. If spirits can rap, it would be expected that they 
could also speak, or, at all events, produce sounds more spirit-like than those 
arising from the friction of bones and cartilage ! Strange, too, that they 
should confine themselves so rigidly to such peculiar noises, instead of vary- 
ing their raps with their changing humors ! The excuse that the " spirits" 
are frequently guilty of falsehood, although very convenient, as has been 
seen, to help the " mediums" out of an embarrassing predicament, is an as- 
sertion which cuts in either direction. In matters pertaining to the future, 
or which are unknown to the " mediums" and questioners, what assurance 
js there that the " spirits" speak the truth ? If they are not infallible, the 
correctness, or incorrectness of the communications, in all cases, is to be de- 
termined by the private judgment of those who receive them ! In the his- 
tory of the imposition it is stated that the spirituality of the JcnocJcings was 
publicly announced by instructions of the spirits themselves. This was a 
reliable communication made by some " spirit" of veracity, but the confes- 
sion that the sounds were made with the knee-joint was made by a " lying 
spirit"! 



28 DISCOVERY OF THE 

Note E, Page 13. 



^1 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER BLOCKINGS. 29 

In order that the reader, not versed in anatomy, may form a better idea 
of the organs and mechanism involved in the production of sounds with the 
knee-joint than can be readily conveyed by a verbal account, we have in- 
troduced the wood-cut on the preceding page, representing all the bones of 
the lower extremity excepting those of the foot. 

The upper bone is the femur, or thigh bone, the largest bone in the body. 
The rounded head, at the upper extremity, attached, by what is called the 
neck, to the shaft of the bone, forming, with the latter, an obtuse angle, en- 
ters into the hip joint. The lower extremity enters into the knee joint. 
This extremity is expanded so as to form two lateral projections, which are 
called condyls. The outer condyl (fig. 2,) is the broadest and most pro- 
minent. The inner condyl (fig. 1,) extends lower than the outer. Be- 
tween the two condyls there is a depression, or fossa. 

The two bones of the leg are represented in the other figure. One of 
these bones only enters into the knee joint. This bone is called the tibia. 
The upper extremity of the tibia is large, and expanded on either side, form- 
ing what are termed the two tuberosities. The upper surfaces of both tu- 
berosities are smooth, for the purpose of articulating with the condyls of 
the femur. Fig. 1, indicates the upper surface of the outer tuberosity, 
which is fitted to the external condyl of the femur (No, 2.) Fig. 2, indi- 
cates the upper surface of the other tuberosity which receives the inner 
condyl of the femur (No. 1.) Between the two tuberosities of the tibia is 
a projecting ridge of bone, the spinous process, which, when the bones are 
in contact, enters the corresponding depression, or fossa, between the two 
condyls of the femur. 

In the living body the articulating surfaces of the condyls are covered 
with a layer of cartilage, a yielding, elastic substance, commonly called 
gristle. The articulating surfaces of the tibia are also covered with the 
same substance, which is thicker at the sides of the surface, thus forming 
an excavation for the reception of the condyls. The surfaces of the two 
bones thus in contact are invested with a firm, smooth membrane, which is 
kept moist by a little ropy fluid, to facilitate motion, and prevent injury from 
friction. 

From the formation of this joint, in so far as the bones are concerned, it 
would naturally occur to the observer that dislocations should be of fre- 
quent occurrence. The bony conformation of the joint is not such as to 
afford much security against displacement This, however, is provided 
against by the patella or knee-pan in front, and by numerous strong liga- 
ments passing from one bone to the other in different directions, and sur- 



30 DISCOVERY OF THE 

rounding the joint on every side. By this arrangement the joint is, in fact, 
rendered the strongest in the body, dislocations being extremely rare. 

The protection of this joint being thus chiefly due to the ligaments, it is 
obvious that, in proportion as the latter may be defective, or elongated in 
some persons, the extremeties of the bones are susceptible of more or less 
displacement from their proper positions. This must be the case in the 
Rochester females of the Fox family, and in others who can produce the 
rapping sounds with the knee joint. In the instance in this city, in which 
we have been permitted to ascertain the mode in which, the sounds are pro- 
duced, the displacement, which can be effected by the muscles at will, is 
such, that the upper extremity of the tibia projects half an inch, or more, in 
a lateral outward direction. The ridge of bone between the two articula- 
ting surfaces of the tibia must be removed from its situation between the 
condyls, and rests upon the outer condyl (fig. 2.) This movement is ac- 
companied by a loud noise, and the return of the bone to its place is 
attended by another equally loud sound. These are the two characteristic 
sounds of the Rochester hioclcings. Having first heard them as made by 
one of the family of Rochester Rappers, and afterward by the lady who 
made no secret or mystery of the mode in which they are produced, the 
similarity was immediately recognized. Indeed, it was impossible to mis- 
take the identity, as the character, as well as the succession of the two 
sounds, is striking and characteristic. 

Many persons are able to produce a similar displacement of the bones of 
the fingers of one hand by a force applied with the other hand. This, as 
the reader is aware, is often practiced as a habit, and in proportion as the 
habit is indulged, the displacement becomes greater in degree, and is made 
with more facility. The movement of the bones, in this case, is attended by 
a sound, which is often pretty loud. This familiar illustration is a represen- 
tation, in miniature, of the mechanism, and the sounds produced by a similar 
movement of the bones composing the knee joint. The former is typical 
of the latter, requiring only to be magnified to render the exemplification 
complete. Any individual in whom the conformation of this joint, as respects 
the ligaments, admits of sufficient lateral motion of the expanded surfaces 
of the bones in contact, by the action of the muscles of the lower extremity, 
may become a rapper ; but the facility with which the requisite motions 
are made and repeated, as also the loudness of the sounds, will doubtless 
depend not a little upon practice. Like any feat of legerdemain, performed 
by the voluntary muscles, the more it is practiced, the more skillfully and 
successfully it is done. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 31 

The constant practice of this accomplishment, must tend to impair the 
strength and healthy tone of the joint ; and we suspect if the movements 
of the younger members of the Fox family are ^observed, it will be 
found that their gait will show a weakness in this portion of the locomotive 
apparatus. 

The rapidity with which the sounds follow each other, is an objection 
offered by some to receiving the explanation which refers them to the joints. 
If done by the voluntary muscles, however, it is not strange that they 
should be produced in rapid succession. It is not a difficult act if the con- 
dition of the joint admits readily of the displacement. The lady, in this 
city, who has been referred to, can make the knockings nearly, infact quite 
as rapidly as the Rochester rappers. 

The conformation of the knee suitable for rapping is certainly not very 
common. But it is probably not so rare but that, when it becomes gener- 
ally known that the sounds proceed from the joints, many places will be 
found to furnish instances. We infer this, from having heard of several 
cases already in this vicinity, during the few days that have elapsed since 
the exposition was made public. This conformation is a peculiarity of organi- 
zation, which,J like other similar anomalies, may extend to different mem- 
bers of the same family. The lady of this city to whom we have referred, 
had an aunt who possessed the same ability to dislocate the knee that she 
has. It (jis not, therefore surprising that two members, at least, of the Fox 
family are rappers. 

The difficulty of conceiving that sounds so loud as the Rochester knock 
ings can come from the knee, or any other joint, leads many to suppose 
that the problem of the knockings, is not yet solved. We confess that, 
even to one who has made the human organism an object of study, this, at 
the first blush, appears to be a valid difficulty. It vanishes, however, when 
we take into consideration the size of the bones forming the joint, the extent 
of articulating surfaces, and the number and size of the muscles of the lower 
extremity. The femur and tibia are the largest bones in the body ; the 
articulation is much larger than any other, being from ten to twenty times 
as large as the finger joints, and the m uscular power bearing upon the 
movements of the knee, directly, and indirectly, by acting on the bones as 
levers, is very great. These are elements which it requires some considera- 
tion to estimate, and which by those not acquainted with Anatomy and 
Physiology, it would hardly be expected should be fully appreciated. 

From the circumstances just mentioned, there is no other joint in the 
body, proba bly, which is capable of yielding such loud sounds as the knee ; 



32 DISCOVERY OF THE 

other joints, however, may emit sounds by a similar mechanism. Some 
of the mysterious noises perhaps are produced by other joints. We do not 
claim that all the rappings heard in different places are produced at the 
knee ; but, as stated in the context, the result of the examination of the mem- 
bers of the Fox family now in this city, goes to show that this is the source 
in that instance. 

Note F, Page 16. — In a communication published in the Daily Courier, 
of this city, over the signature H. [George Haskins, Esq.,] the author 
states that while the " spirits" were replying to written questions, by rap- 
ping, as he pointed with his pencil to a series of various words and figures, 
among which the answers sought for were included, he observed the raps 
were invariably made whenever he intentionally allowed the pencil to rest 
upon the paper longer than usual. 

While we were witnessing the phenomena, at our first and only visit, 
except when invited to test the correctness of the exposition, we noticed 
that generally the rap came in the interval between designating one figure, 
or word, and the next in succession. This gave room for selecting either 
that might chance to express the correct answer, and thus increased the 
probabilities of success in guessing. 

A critical observer in studying the countenances and actions of the two 
females while the performance was going on, could not fail to perceive that 
while the younger was striving in every way to conceal the voluntary act 
by which the sounds were produced, and to assume the different positions 
favorable to the production of the knockings, the senior sister was intently 
engaged in determining when the raps should occur. The two sisters are 
never separated while the manifestations are going on. 

Note G. Page 16. — The idea of being able to hold converse with the 
spirits of deceased relatives and friends, it is needless to remark, is eminent- 
ly calculated to excite powerfully a mind impressible by what claims to be 
supernatural. There is scarcely any delusion to which the assent of the 
understanding would be more willingly yielded than to this. In this fact 
we may find reason for the readiness with which many persons are duped, 
aside from an innate love of the marvelous and mysterious. The imposition 
avails itself of one of the strongest of the yearnings of the human heart, 
and from this feature it derives not a little of its success. A person per- 
suaded of the reality of a communion with those who had been honored or 
loved when living, is, assuredly, not in a frame of mind suited for an impar- 
tial observer, or a candid reasoner. Nor are the reports of such persons 
worthy of much confidence, admitting that they do not designedly deceive, 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 33 

but are perfectly honest in their declarations. They are not credible wit- 
nesses, because they cannot, if they would, divest themselves of emotions, 
which must necessarily distort their perceptions, and bias the judgment, and 
are therefore incompatible with a philosophical investigation for truth. A 
large share of the wonders attested by the converts to the doctrine of the 
spiritual origin of the Rochester Tappings, are at once disposed of, by al- 
lowing proper weight to the consideration just stated. 

The individuals engaged in conducting the spiritual manifestations appre- 
ciate the importance of investing the performance with as much solemnity, 
and formality, as practicable. This is shown by the subjoined regulations 
prescribed by them, which, as the reader will perceive, evince considerable 
shrewdness : — 

" Attention is respectfully called to the ensuing rules of order" : — 

1. All persons present at interviews are expected to observe the order 
and decorum, which should characterize meetings of religious solemnity 
and importance. 

2. No controversies with reference to the truth or falsity of the commu- 
nications should be entered into during their continuance. 

3. All persons should follow, without delay or discussion, all directions 
given with reference to conduct, position, &c, as compliance with directions 
given generally ensures satisfactory manifestations, while neglect, or refusal, 
generally results in their partial or complete cessation. 

4. When any individual indicated by the spirits is in communication with 
them, no other person should interfere, as this often occasions discontinu- 
ance of the manifestations. 

5. The ladies in whose presence the manifestations are made, will use 
their best exertions to satisfy all enquiries ; but since the manifestations, 
alike in their commencement, character and duration, are above their per- 
sonal control, they cannot promise that all persons, or all inquiries, will 
obtain answers, no manifestations being made, except at the spirits' will. 

Terms of admission one dollar. Interviews may be obtained at the fol- 
lowing hours : — 9 to 10 A. M., 11 to 12 A. M., 3^- to 5 P. M. No admit- 
tance after these hours, or after the interviews have commenced. Gentle- 
men will please provide tickets at the office. " 

The " spirits " do by no means hold communion with all who invoke 
their presence. This being understood, the persons, as well as the most 
favorable occasions, may be selected at discretion, which is a matter of no 
small advantage, as will be at once obvious. At the time of our visit, there 
were nearly twenty persons seated around the table. Of these, while we 
c 



34 SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 

remained in the room, the " spirits" were willing to communicate with only 
one. We thought, at first, that the selection was a judicious one for the 
" spirits," but the result proved otherwise, for scarcely any of a series of 
questions was answered correctly, until, at length, the questioner stated 
that he was fully satisfied, and declined any more interrogations. 



APPENDIX 



Letter by Prof. Chas. A. Lee. — The subjoined letter by Prof. Lee, 
was addressed to the editor of the New York daily Tribune, and published 
in that print on the 26th ult. It contains a brief statement of facts, relating 
to the exposition, which hare already been presented in the article by the 
editor of the Buffalo Medical Journal. But the author enters more fully 
into a consideration of the laws of sound involved in the explanations of the 
fact that the raps appear to be made upon different objects, and in different 
quarters of the room. The editor of the Tribune, in his comments on the 
letter, says : " Dr. L's explanation of the manner in which sounds have 
seemed to be produced at a distance from the persons by whose physical 
efforts his theory ( ?) assumes that they actually were produced, appears 
sufficient" 

THE "ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS" EXPOSED. 

Phelps House, Buffalo, Friday, Feb. 21. 

To the Editor of The Tribune: 

Knowing that you have taken much interest in the " Rockester Knock- 
ing^," so called, and believing that you, together with thousands of others 
have been grossly deceived by certain members of the Fox Family, I feel it 
my duty to make to you this communication. You will have noticed an ar- 
ticle in the Buf. Com.l of the l7thinst., headed "Exposition of the Roches- 
ter Knockings," to which my name, in company with the names of Prof's. 
Flint and Coventry, is appended. I need not go over the ground there oc- 
cupied, nor repeat the mode of reasoning by which the results were arrived 
at, nor describe more fully the particulars of the case of Mrs. P., who has 
the power of producing the same sounds, and by which, the truth of our 
position was demonstrated. You will also have noticed in the same paper 
of the 18th, a " Card" from Mrs. Fish and Miss M. Fox, inviting us to test 
the truth of our theory, and denying the charge of their being impostors. 
On the evening of the 18th, we accordingly attended at their rooms, in com- 
pliance with the above invitation. Some eight or ten individuals, including 
three ladies, friends of Mrs. Fish and Miss F. were present, and at our re- 
quest, Mr. N. Rogers, of the Phelps House, Mr. Marshall, Attorney at Law, 



36 DISCOVERY OF THE 

and Judge Stow. The preliminaries being arranged, we asked " whether 
the ' spirits' would be present and communicate with us through the even- 
ing." After an interval of a minute or so, " raps" were heard, and con- 
tinued in quick succession for some time, which Mrs. Fish declared to be an 
affirmative answer. This was repeated, so that there would be no mistake 
as to the willingness, on the part of the " spirits," to accommodate us. This 
being settled, Mrs. Fish and Miss Fox were requested to be seated on chairs, 
their limbs extended, and their heels resting on cushions. The reasons for 
placing them in this position were stated, viz : That we believed, in order 
that the raps should be heard, that the feet should have some solid support, 
serving as & fulcrum; else the contraction of the muscles of the leg would 
not throw the bone (head of the tibia) out of place ; or, if so, no sound 
would be heard, unless the concussion, or vibration, which would be thus 
produced, could be communicated to some sonorous, or vibrating body. 
While thus seated, more than fifty minutes elapsed, during which no " raps" 
were heard, though the " spirits" were urged and called upon by Mrs. F. to 
" manifest" themselves. A part of this time, Miss Fox was allowed to seat 
herself on the sofa, her limbs and feet resting on the cushions of the same, 
No sounds having been heard, it was suggested that the ladies be allowed 
to take any position they pleased, and see if any " raps" were then heard. 
Accordingly, they seated themselves on the sofa, their feet resting on the 
floor, when immediately a loud succession of " raps" followed, and continued 
for several minutes. We then proposed to try another test ; so, seating our- 
selves before the ladies, we grasped each of their knees firmly, so as to pre- 
vent any lateral movement of the bones ; the " raps" immediately ceased^ 
and were not heard while the knees were thus held, except near the close 
of the experiment, which continued once forty minutes, when two slight 
sounds were heard, on slightly relaxing my grasp, while at the same time I 
distinctly felt the heads of the bones grating on each other, and the muscles 
contracting, which, though a very positive kind of evidence to me, I am 
aware is not so satisfactory to bystanders. 

I should state that our hands were removed several times from the knees 
during the trial, and " raps" were always heard during the interval of re- 
moval. At the close of the sitting, which continued till past 11 o'clock, 
Miss Fox was much affected and shed many tears, which excited much sym- 
pathy on the part of some of the gentlemen present. I need not add, that 
our position was triumphantly sustained, and that public opinion here, is now 
almost universally on our side. 

On the evening of the 19th, a party of ladies and gentlemen met at the 
house of Prof. F., when Mrs. P., the lady whom we accidentally discovered 
to have the power of "rapping" in her knees, was present. During the 
evening all the phenomena of the " Rochester Knockings" were produced, 
the sounds being exactly similar in character and degree to those produced 
by the Foxes. I should state, perhaps, that the sounds are produced, not 
as first suggested, " by the muscles inserted into the upper and inner side of 
the large bone of the leg (the tibia) near the knee-joint, being brought into 
action so as to move the upper surface of the bone just named, laterally up- 
on the lower surface of the thigh bone, (the femur,) giving rise to a partial 
lateral dislocation," [Commercial Advertiser, Feb. 17;) but the partial dis- 
location consists in the movement of the tibia outward, partly occasioned, I 
believe, by pressure on the foot, there being great relaxation of the liga- 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 37 

ments about the knee-joint; but chiefly by the action of the muscles of the 
leg below the knee. At least this is the iact with regard to Mrs. P., for by 
placing the hand on the side of the joint, the bone can be felt, at the instant 
the loud double rap is heard, slipping out laterally, and as suddenly slipping 
back again ; although, by an effort of the will, it can be made to glide back 
noiselessly, so that only one " rap" is heard. But this can be repeated in 
pretty rapid succession for a long time, although it requires evidently con- 
siderable practice to attain great skill in this new and hitherto myste- 
rious art 

You may very naturally ask why has not this physiological phenomenon 
been known to physicians before ? I answer, that it has, so far as the 
smaller joints are concerned. Every person, almost, can snap the finger- 
joints; many, also, as Mr. Burr, can snap their toe-joints, and some their 
ankles, producing a pretty loud " rap" when placed in contact with seme 
sonorous body ; but the same phenomenon is very seldom met with in the 
larger joints, as the knee ; and when it is, it has escaped particular observa- 
tion, and not been made known to physicians, as it neither requires, perhaps, 
nor admits of medical aid. 

But it may be said by some, that the above explanation is not altogether 
satisfactory, inasmuch as these "rappings" are heard in different parts of the 
room at the same time ; or sometimes on the table, then the door, then the 
walls of the room, and at a distance from the " rappers," &c. After spend- 
ing several hours a day, for three days, with Mrs. Fish and Miss F., during 
which the " raps" were invariably heard, whenever called for, without, as I 
recollect, a single exception, I found that in no one instance did the sounds 
seem to proceed from the door, unless Miss F. was near enough to touch it 
with her heel ; nor did the sounds seem to proceed from the table, unless 
she was near enough to the leg of the table to touch it with her foot ; but 
generally, they proceeded from the floor, apparently in her vicinity, although 
the floor could be felt to vibrate at some distance from her, just as the 
whole table would vibrate when she placed her foot against one of its legs. 
Much of the confusion and error on this subject arises, doubtless, from an 
ignorance of the laws which regulate the propagation of sounds. We 
should recollect that sounds may be propagated in various ways, as 

First: By reciprocation, as vibrations are excited in a sounding body, 
when it is capable of yielding a musical tone of definite pitch, and another 
body of the same pitch is made to sound near it. As examples of this, if 
two strings of the same length and tension be placed alongside of each 
other, and one of them be sounded with a violin bow, the other will be 
thrown into reciprocal vibration ; or if the same tone be produced near the 
string in any other manner, as by a flute or a tuning-fork, the same effect 
will result. So also glass tumblers are made to sound by a violin, played 
at some distance. Two watches, which do not tick alike, will soon beat in 
unison when placed near each other on the same table. On the same prin- 
ciple, sonorous bodies, as iron-blowers, pianos, &c, may be made to give 
forth sounds in the same room where the " raps" are made, at some dis- 
tance from them ; and a gentleman of respectability informs me that he has 
noticed this phenomenon in the room where the ladies were exhibiting here. 

Second: We may have vibrations of resonance, which occur when a 
sounding body is placed in connection with any other. Here one or more 
parts will be thrown into reciprocal vibration, even though the tone of the 



38 DISCOVERY OF THE 

whole be different, or it be not capable of producing a definite tone at all 
If we place a tuning-fork in vibration, upon a table or sound-board, we find 
that, though the whole board has no definite fundamental note, it will di- 
vide itself into a number of parts, which will reciprocate the original sound, 
so as greatly to increase its intensity ; and the same sound-board will act 
equally well for tuning-forks of different degrees of pitch, although when 
smaller bodies are used for resonance, it is essential that there should be a 
relation between its fundamental note and that of the sonorous body, other- 
wise no distinct resonance is produced. These principles are well known to 
scientific musicians, and they are occasionally illustrated in rooms where 
these "raps" are produced. 

Third: Sounds, however, can strictly be said to be propagated, only, by 
vibrations of conduction, and in this way, for the most part, are the sounds 
produced by the " rappers" propagated. Thus, when Miss Fox " raps," her 
feet resting solely on the floor, the sound, in consequence of the clothes fall- 
ing closely about the feet, is somewhat muffled, and the vibrations being 
propagated to the floor in every direction, it is almost impossible to decide, 
where they are most intense. Those having a nice musical ear, can gene- 
rally locate them directly in her vicinity ; but, if the attention is drawn to 
another part of the room, then, as in the case of ventriloquism, the sound 
seems to proceed thence. This power of distinguishing the direction of 
sounds, it is well known, is chiefly acquired by habit, and varies exceedingly 
in different individuals. Thus, when these " raps" have been heard, I have 
often known them to be located in different parts of the room by different 
persons present. We judge of the direction of sound chiefly, if not altoge- 
ther, by the relative intensity of the impressions produced by the two ears 
respectively. 

If the sounds, then, be produced under circumstances where the same 
impression is made on both ears, or auditory nerves, then we are wholly un- 
able to designate from what quarter they come. This often happens in a 
small room, where there are many vibrating bodies, when these muffled 
" raps" are heard, although we have generally been able, by close attention, 
to locate them in the vicinity of Miss Fox. So, also, our idea of the distance 
of a sound is altogether an acquired perception, depending principally on the 
loudness or faintness of the sound, if we have no other indications to guide 
us. When we are entirely ignorant how a certain sound is produced, and 
how intense it might be expected to be, we have no means of judging of 
the distance of the sonorous body from us, and we may suppose that a 
sound proceeds from a remote part of the house, when it is actually located 
a few feet distact only. A shrill railroad whistle, made several miles off, 
appears to be quite near to us, while a dull sound appears remote, although 
made in our immediate vicinity. These principles, which are often over- 
looked or unknown, will serve, I believe, to explain all the varieties and phe- 
nomena of sounds connected with the " Rochester Rappings," and to recon- 
cile the various clashing opinions which have been made with regard to 
their location, &c. 

I hope I need make no apology for this communication, which is solely 
for the purpose of subserving the interests of truth, by clearing up a mys- 
tery which has thus far baffled many enquirers, and which has been pro- 
ductive of much evil in the community. 

I am, very respectfully, yours, CHARLES A. LEE, M. D. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 



RAPPINGS AT THE ANKLE, BY MOVEMENTS OF A TENDON. 



Since the article taken from the Buffalo Medical Journal was written, an 
instance has fallen under observation, in which rappings are produced at the 
ankle joint by the movements of a tendon. A young man of this city is able to 
develop pretty loud sounds in this situation, which are very similar, in char- 
acter, to the Rochester knockings. We have been allowed to examine the 
modus operandi in this instance. We have heard of two other instances in 
which sounds are produced in a similar manner. This may be the mode 
pursued by some of the numerous media of spiritual communications scat- 
tered about the country. It is, therefore, important to be prepared to de- 
tect the imposition when practised by means of this mode of originating 
mysterious noises. We take this occasion to repeat, it is not contended 
that in all the instances of spiritual rappings, the bones entering into the 
knee joint are the instruments of sound. Some rappers, doubtless, use the 
knees, as do the Foxes, others may use the toes, others the tendon, as will 
be presently described, and others, perhaps, other joints, or possibly other ten- 
dons. The sounds, it will be thus perceived, are not exclusively articular, 
as was at first supposed, but they may be tendonic as well as toeic ! All, how- 
ever, have these features in common, viz.: they are voluntary, and produced 
by the will acting through voluntary muscles upon moveable parts with 
which the latter are connected. This new field of scientific inquiry has been 
too recently opened to have ascertained all the different ways in which 
sounds may be originated in accordance with the principle just stated. 

The rappings at the ankle joint, which we have called tendonic, are ex- 
plained as follows : — A muscle, called the peroneus longus, arises from the 
upper part of the leg, just below the knee, and terminates in a long round 
tendon, or sinew, or chord, which passes through a groove in the back part 
of the bony protuberance constituting the outer ankle, (melleolus externus.) 
The tendon then arches forward, passes under the foot, and is attached to 
the middle of the sole. In most persons this tendon is firmly fixed in the 
groove by ligaments, but in those who are able to rap by means of this 
agent, it is not closely confined, but may be moved forward for the space of 
an inch or more, by contraction of the muscle with which it is connected, 
and the contraction of this muscle may be produced by an exertion of the 



40 DISCOVERY OF THE 

will acting exclusively on it. The quick and forcible movement of the ten- 
don over the outer ankle bone causes a sound, and a second sound occurs 
when the tendon returns to its place. The proximate cause of the sounds 
is essentially the same as when they are produced in the joints. As in the 
latter case, the extent to which the movement may be effected, the facility 
and force with which it is done, and the corresponding loudness of the 
sounds, will depend not a little on practice. The young man referred to. 
cannot recollect the time when he began to rap; and during his youth he 
was daily in the habit of producing the sounds more or less frequently. As 
it was impossible for persons in the same room to refer the sounds to their 
true source, they were supposed to proceed from different directions, and 
he was thus accustomed to derive much amusement from the exercise of 
the trick. The requisite movements are made, as in the case of the knee, 
with no visible motion of the limb. On grasping the leg, however, the 
muscle is plainly felt to contract. By pressing the finger on the outer 
ankle, and preventing the slipping over it of the tendon, no sound can be 
made. 

The sound produced in this way is not so loud as that emanating from 
the knee. 

A fulcrum for the foot is not necessary for this kind of rapping. The 
plan of placing .the rapper in a position to prevent sonorous displacements 
of the bones of the knee joint, would, therefore, not suffice to detect the im- 
position. 

If the rapper depended on this tendon, the way to strike the " spirits " 
dumb, would be to grasp the legs or ankles with the hand. The humor of 
the spirits would not permit them to make any manifestation under thes e 
circumstances! 

The frequent repetition of the movements of the tendon necessary to 
produce the sounds in this case, do not occasion pain or irritation, more 
than the semi-dislocations of the knee joint, especially if the practice be 
kept up. The parts become inured to the friction, precisely as in the case 
of the finger joints, which some persons, as is well known, are continually 
snapping. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 41 



EXPOSITION BY SHADRACK BARNES— TOE OLOGY! 



A series of articles have lately appeared in the New York Express on the 
subject of the spiritual rappings, signed Shadrack Barnes, containing some 
rich illustrationsof the practical working of the new science. Since our exposi- 
tion was published, the writer, who has adopted the above signature as a nomme 
de plume, has favored us with several letters, from which we are permitted 
to give extracts, and also to make free use of the articles referred to. The 
writer has adopted the explanation, originating, we believe, with Mr. Burr, 
a public lecturer, which refers the JcnocJcings to a peculiar motion of the 
toes. Mr. Barnes (using the assumed title) states, that he can himself make 
loud rappings with the toes, and reproduce most of the phenomena of sound 
which are exhibited by the Fox family and others. Since our attention 
has been called to this method of producing sounds, we have met with an 
individual who is able to make them in that way with facility, and without 
any visible movements. The sounds resemble those of the Rochester 
knockers, but are not so loud, nor do the vibrations appear to be so readily 
communicated to doors, tables, &c, in contact with the limb. They seem 
to us, in fact, to be pretty good imitations of the spiritual rappings, rather 
than the veritable rappings themselves. We think it highly probable that 
this method of rapping is adopted by some of the numerous media in differ- 
ent parts of the country, and it should, therefore, be understood by those 
disposed to interest themselves in the explosion of the imposition. With 
this view, we shall avail ourselves of the private letters of Shadrach Barnes. 
" A chief difficulty," he remarks, " with the knee explanation is, that not 
one person in ten thousand can do it. If you consider the number of 
' media,'' it would seem that so large a portion, who can produce sounds by 
these means could not be found."* He continues, " the same effect would 
be the consequence, if the toe doctrine is correct, which you have observed 
with the Rochester ladies ; that is, if you hold the knees, they cannot rap 
without being detected by the motion of the muscles ; and with a thin shoe, 
the rapping would be faint and readily detected by observation, if the heels 
are placed on cushions. I have tried all these things myself. I can rap 
loud with my heels on a pillow or cushion, or while standing on a bed, and 
I can also rap quite well with my feet entirely off the floor. But in all 

* It is doubtful if this objectiou will apply- We have already heard of four persons 
in this vicinity who can rap with the knee joints. 



42 DISCOVERT OF THE 

these cases the muscular movement would be too apparent to permit any 
earthly hands to grasp my knees. I have seen published statements of dis- 
creet matrons, who have disrobed the damsels, and caused them to stand 
en chemise, on pillows, and still the sounds were produced. It will be 
found that in all these cases, these ladies have been permitted to stand in 
their shoes. The sounds always partake of the nature of the locality of the 
feet. If the " medium " stand on a carpeted floor, the sounds are muffled 
somewhat, but if on an unclad floor, they are more sonorous; a marble 
pavement is the vehicle of just such " spiritual " sounds as my own toes 
produce. Persuade the medium to stand on a tin pan, or a sheet-iron ves- 
sel of any kind, and the sounds are regular metalic sounds. All efforts 
then to persuade the spirits to rap on the wall or table, or at a distance, 
will hardly be available, because there can be no mistake as to the 
locality of a sound so definite in its character, and hence the wary ghosts 
will not attempt it. The convenience of female drapery enables the ladies 
to place their feet in a great many positions. By tucking the foot under, 
and sitting upon it, the sounds are as if on the chair, the vibrations are 
clearly perceptible, but the * honest searcher after truth ' is more than ever 
bewildered as to the precise location of the " raps /" So if the rapper sits 
at a table contiguous to one of its legs, she can easily, and without any mo- 
tion that could be observed, place a foot against the table leg, then the rap- 
ping is on the table, the vibration is plainly felt, and the intensity and 
quality of the sound will depend upon the position of the foot, whether 
against the top or bottom of the table leg. The common centre table is 
most convenient, the horizontal portion to which the upright shaft is at- 
tached, serves for a very good resting place for the feet." 

" Can you conceive of anything more amusing than to sit with a ' circle' 
of ' rappers,' and to throw in an occasional rap ! rap ! of your own, in an- 
swer to some interrogatory ? The joke is, that the priestess does not ob- 
ject, for the 'counterfeit presentment' cannot be distinguished from the 
genuine. I have said that I can rap loud; and that, with all looking at 
my feet, no motion can be perceived. I will go further, and say, that with 
a few weeping women, in the belief that I am a ' medium,' and a few be- 
fogged harmonial philosophers, I can rap while they have their hands on my 
feet, and not be detected. I mentioned that I thought pulverised soap 
stone would stop the rapping. This substance is used by boot makers to 
facilitate the sale of tight boots. Its effects on leather are curious. I ven- 
ture the following prescription for the disease : — R. Pulv. Sapolapis, q. s. 
Introduce into the toe of the shoe." 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 43 

As we have remarked, it is altogether probable that some of the spiritual 
rappers may employ the toes in the mode mentioned by the writer of the 
foregoing. It is therefore well to be aware of this source of sounds, in con- 
ducting examinations for proof of the fact that they are occasioned by vo- 
lition, acting upon voluntary muscles. Let the toes be looked after on such 
occasions, as well as the knees and other joints. Some may produce sounds 
both with the knees and toes. In the case of the younger sister of the Fox 
family now in this city, however, we are fully satisfied that the rappings 
come from the knee. 

The fact of such loud rappings being produced by the toes, ought to 
satisfy those persons who think it incredible that the Kochester knockings 
can emanate from the knee joint, the physical conditions for the production 
of sound being very much greater in the latter. 

We proceed to give the developments contained in the communications 
by Shadrach Barnes for the N. Y. Express. The facts contained in the 
following article speak for themselves. The person to whom the fictitious 
letter was addressed, La Roy Sunderland, is Editor of a weekly periodical 
entitled the Spirit World, devoted especially to " communications from 
spirits/" The extent to which this remarkable imposition has been car- 
ried is truly astonishing. A large portion of the community who have 
taken no pains to look into the matter, are probably not aware of the pro- 
gress it has made. 

We copy the article from the Buffalo Morning Courier, retaining the 
introductory remarks prefaced by the Editor of that print. 

The Spiritual Rappings. — The following article from the N. Y. Ex- 
press, written over the assumed name of " Shadrach Barnes," exposes the 
infamous humbuggery practised by Mr. La Roy Sunderland, one of the 
great " spiritual rappers" of Boston. It it a remarkably rich develope- 
ment, and should be read by every one who has been to see the "rappers" 
here, or who has any curiosity on the subject. A few more exposures, 
such as this, will so nauseate the public with the " science" that they will 
look upon all its " professors" with a feeling that we will not take the trou- 
ble to name : — 

In former communications on the subject of "Mysterious Rappings" a 
few facts and observations have been presented in a plain way, with a view 
to show the knavery of this blasphemous imposture. Without attempting 
to argue that rapping and kicking are indecorous and unseemly ways for 
disembodied spirits to adopt for the purpose of making themselves known, 
I have been willing to receive their manifestations in any way they may 
choose to adopt, and have never resorted to any indiscriminate cry of hum- 
bug and collusion, without fair investigation. It has been shown that the 
infinite variety of get-offs, subterfuges and evasions would prevent any 



44 DISCOVERY OE THE 

thing like a fair investigation, and that a resort to pious frauds to try the 
spirits, has been absolutely necessary. The similia similibus, "hair of the 
same dog will cure the bite," — humbug for humbug — system, has thus far 
been productive of the most satisfactory results. 

The following correspondence is a practical application of this method, 
and is at the same time interesting as showing that Boston " ghosts" are 
no more reliable than the spirits of Rochester or Brooklyn. The first let- 
ter, signed Phebe Newell, was written by myself. If in this vast city 
there should chance to be any other Phebe Newell, I wish it distinctly 
understood that she had no agency in the following orthographical produc- 
tion. The personal identity of Shadrach with Phebe can be fully estab- 
lished. And so if there be discovered any Mary Ellens among the Per- 
kinses, they are no children of mine, unless they are out of their heads, 
and flitey, and with their " dear Mother Newell" all the time, — and even 
then I shall ignore the maternity. But here is the letter of the afflicted 
Phebe, verbatim, et literatim, et punctuatim. 

" respected sur I send one dollar if you please ut have some questions 
respecting of my daughter which departed this lif January the 19. 1851 i 
brot her up from a child she was a daughter too me her name is mary 
ellen Perkins and was 19 when she dide my mind is exercirsed very much 
in respect of her state of mind in a religious point of view which if you 
Communion with spirits in the other world she was flitey and out of her 
head as the poet sais afflictions soar long time she bore physician was in 
vain send me a letter i want two here if her state of mind is happy no 
more at present 

PHEBE NEWELL 

new Yore sity feb, the 31 st 1851. 

mr laroy Sunderland." 

This letter, enclosing one dollar,* addressed in characteristic chirography 
to Mr. La Roy Sunderland, Boston, was read to a friend, and by him de- 
posited in the post office, postage paid, Feb. 13, 1851. 



The following is Mr. Sunderland's reply : 



Eliot-St., Boston, Mass., 
■J- past 10, A. M., Feb. 15, 1851 



.\ 



My Sister Dear: — I have this moment laid your letter before the Spi- 
rits, and received the following answer: — Tell her, Mary is happy and 
with her dear Mother Newell all the time. I watch over her for good ; 
and I love her now more than ever. I will be near her and stand at her 
right hand when she reads your answer. She must not grieve. I will 
soon make sounds in her presence when she is alone, which she can hear, 
when she will know it is me." 

" And I understood the spirits to say that you was not her own mother, 
but she loved you as her own, and she said she came here to tell what to 



* This is the fourth dollar I have paid for spiritual information. I am free to admit 
in all instances I have received a quid pro quo. S. B. 



SOURCE OP THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS, 45 

say to you when I answered your letter. In the Sphere where Mary has 
gone none are miserable, but all are as happy as they possibly can be." 
Yours truly, 

LA ROY SUNDERLAND." 

" It is not often that I attempt an answer to letters like yours, but I sup- 
pose I was attracted to Mary's sweet spirit to gratify you. She has stood 
-by me while writing, as I believe." 

This " gem from the spirit land" comes written on what may be called, 
I suppose, Spiritual world paper . The sheet is surmounted with an en- 
graved vignette, in which are clouds in fleecy plenitude, and in their midst 
is a series of three concentric circles. In the inner circle is a triangle, 
within which is a gas light burning. " Wisdom," " Love," " Will," appear 
on the shadowy triangle, while " Truth," " Goodness" and "Justice" are 
well bestowed in the background as outsiders. The following is printed 
beneath: 

$£W " For Information in answer to all Questions respecting Spirits, 
and the Future Destiny of the Human Race, read the paper with the 
above title (Spirit World.) It contains communications produced by Au- 
dible responses from the Spirit World; explains the use of Spiritual mani- 
festations, and the conditions on which they are made. Pledged to no 
Traditional Dogmas in Theology, Philosophy, or Science, it acknowledges 
no authority but the Infinite Harmonia, and takes for the scope of its 
mission the universal diffusion of Goodness, Justice and Truth. Published 
weekly ($1 per volume,) at 28 Eliot street." 

Mr. Sunderland is the Ursa Major of the Spiritual doings at Boston. 
His paper contains all that is late and interesting from the upper spheres. 
He tells us the communications he receives are audible, truthful and relia- 
ble responses from Angels, and often speaks of the assistance he derives 
from these celestial visitants in the discharge of his Editorial duties. It 
seems he believes he was " attracted by Mary's sweet spirit," and she stood 
by him while he was writing! I may as well state that I was not con- 
scious of any spirit standing by my "right side" whilst reading the letter 
from Mr. -S. So I am inclined to think Miss " Mary Ellen Perkins" was 
not at my right hand, though she may have been * over the left.' As to 
" audible sounds" which are to be vouchsafed to " dear Mother 'Newell " 
while alone, by this shadow of a shade, Miss Perkins, I can only say, bring- 
on the sounds! Phebe "is willing." 

The late Braintree suicide has called public attention to the considera- 
ration of some of the consequences of the delusion. No person can read 
the artless statement of the poor girl, (George Sand,) left behind her, with- 
out being filled with commiseration for the deluded victims, and contempt 
for the heartless sharpers who deceived them. 

The report of the Superintendent of the different Insane Hospitals will 
furnish another chapter. We shall continue to " try the spirits," consider- 
ing it to be right to expose all the trickery and villainy we can get hold of. 
The delicate morality of the Providence Post will, I suppose, be shocked by 
the spurious letter of "Mrs. Newell." I can't help it; it is a part of the 
similia similibus system that provides for " tests " which cannot be thwarted 
by Peter Funks or " Philosophers." The original letter of Mr. Sunderland 
is in the hands of the editors of the Express, and also a copy of Phebe's 



46 



DISCOVERY OF THE 



epistle, in her own caligraphy. Now let us see how these spirits will get 
out of this trap. The " lying spirits * game won't do this time ; and it 
will hardly be worth while to cry out " error i' the bill." 

SHADRACH BARNES. 

The following letter from " Shadrech Barnes," relates to the foregoing 
communication : — 

" Since the publication of the above correspondence, I have been much 
amused with the grave explanations of the ' faithful/ and the ingenious ex- 
cuses, curious subterfuges and endeavors, to get ' Brother Sunderland' out 
of the snare. 

" As might be expected, the old story of attributing all to the machina- 
tions of ' lying, discordant or insane spirits,' is most prominent. There is 
too much harmony for discordant, too much ' method in the madness' for 
insane spirits, and while the mendacity is sufficiently apparent, we are in- 
clined to believe its origin is a long way this side of Styx. 

" It so happens this plan for trapping Sunderland was devised with espe- 
cial reference to this objection, after reading his own rules for judging of 
the reliability of spiritual communications as published by him in his ' Spi- 
rit World.' After the long and philosophic expositions of spiritual com- 
munications with especial reference to their being genuine, with the assis- 
tance, as he avers, of celestial visitants, one would suppose he was so 
completely au fait in matters of ultra mundane converse, that no * goblin 
damned' could by any possibility fool him. But a few week since a ' circle' 
of ' Harmonial Philosophers' met at his house, and after successfully evok- 
ing the ' venerated spirit' of the late Dr. William Ellery Channing, by his 
assistance and approval, proceeded to establish the laws by which the cor- 
rectness and reliability of spiritual communications could be determined. 
Now after a careful examination of the labors of these sapient codifiers, I 
unhesitatingly declare that this case of ' Phebe Newell' is clearly ' within 
the statute in such case made and provided.' 

" According to these laws — much depends on the ' medium' — ' When the 
' medium' is low or surrounded by mortals and spirits who are low in the 
sphere of knowledge and goodness, the responses through such mediums 
must correspond, and consequently be more or less discordant.' ' All me- 
diums are known and estimated according to their works. ' Much depends 
on attraction, a kind of spiritual affinity — the general principle of which 
seems to be that ' birds of a feather flock together.' Thus, ' spirits who 
have not progressed very far may be attracted by congenial spiritual affini- 
ties in the human world to appear or to respond in borrowed names*. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER BLOCKINGS. 47 

" This masquerading policy seems to obtain quite generally among the 
spirits. One writer and exponent says : ' there are gangs of unprogressed 
spirits from the first, second, and third spheres, whose minds are dark,' who 
are opposed to this ' diffusion of knowledge/ and he intimates these chaps 
hang around, and keep off the more respectable and refined celestials who 
are disposed to make communications. The same writer says, these scamps 
are in the habit of lying about their location, as well as names, ' because 
they do not wish it known that their grade is so low in the other world !' 
and he gravely suggests, that when we find these unprogressed spirits dis- 
posed to put on airs, we must treat them kindly, ' gently reprove them, ask 
them questions as to their avocations, anxieties, hopes, associations,' and 
their views on matters and things in general ; and finally, ' ask them to tell 
us candidly what sphere they are in.' Another writer says, he has found 
that the best way is to deal harshly, to scold at these graceless interlopers, 
and by such means compel them to own up, and doff their aliases. 

* I have so much confidence in the skill and judgement of Mr. Sunderland, 
that I presume he availed himself of a ' medium' who was reliable, and not 
low, or such as would attract any ' congenial spiritual affinities' 1 like those 
unprogressed sans culottes, of ' kingdom come,' just mentioned, when he re- 
ceived the consolatory message from ' Mary Ellen Perkins' to 'dear Mother 
Newell' 

" '■ All mediums are known by their works,' and the ' works' of Sunder- 
land's ' mediums' hitherto, have been considered marvelous in the extreme, 
both for goodness and knowledge. This medium has attracted the spirit 
of the lamented Dr. Channing ; and La Roy says, at one spiritual sitting, 
where his medium and another were present, the spirits said there were 
t more than three hundred angels present ! ' Such an extensive delegation 
from the unseen world would seem to imply that Mr. Sunderland is not 
wanting in ultra-mundane friends, and the only mystery is that they should 
so far forget their duties as guardian spirits, as not to cry out — ' Beware of 
counterfeits ! ' 

" Among the laws established by the * circle' of spiritual Solons, it is laid 
down ' that reliable responses are never to be expected from spirits, between 
whom and some one in the circle, some direct relation can not be shown 
to exist' Now, as the imaginary ' Miss Perkins' had no direct relation with 
' Brother Sunderland,' it has been doubted whether this message was from 
a reliable spirit The same difficulty has been suggested in regard to the 
spirit of Dr. Channing, by a correspondent of Sunderland. La Roy dis- 
poses of this man of little faith very quickly, by saying there was a ' direct 



48 



DISCOVERY OF THE 



paternal relation' existing. 'Advice' was given; and, lie asks triumphantly 
* can advice be given and received without any relation ? ' The case of 
Phebe is perfectly plain now. ' Mary Allen' gives Mather Newell advice 
and consolation ; and if sceptics will doubt the genuineness of ' Miss Per- 
kins and her message, they will be compelled to presume that Mr. Sunder- 
land has been humbugged, both in spirit land and Yankee land; a con- 
clusion, by the way, which seems fully warranted by the facts. If he was 
not ' attracted by Mary's sweet spirit,' and if she did not stand at his side 
when he wrote to Sister Newell, I should be inclined to think that perhaps 
Mr. S. was attracted by the dollar enclosed in 'Mrs. Newell's' letter; and, 
considering that he might minister to a- mind so much ' exercised,' without 
resorting to the usual mummery of calling up spirits, he wrote himself down 
an ass, at the same time he wrote to Mrs. Newell ; and his promise of sounds 
to the trusting Phebe is a draft in perspective on the credulity of the ima- 
ginary old lady. The hint, in Phebe's letter, that ' she was a daughter to 
me,' was snapped up very greedily, and the marvelous discovery that 
'Mary Allen' was not an 'own child,' was set forth as an instance of re- 
markable spiritual ken ! In this instance, as in every other where it has 
been tried by myself, leading questions, interrogatories suggestive of the 
answers have produced replies corresponding. Afford the mediums the in- 
ducement and means to deceive, as they suppose, and they immediately 
avail themselves of it. The knowledge imparted is just what the mediums 
have to give forth. Attempt to humbug the medium in a bungling manner, 
or purposely let them ' smell a rat,' and * lying spirits' are off in a twinkling, 
and the ' good spirits will rap reproof suitable to the occasion ! Any man 
possessing two grains of common sense, sufficient to rub together, and, by 
attrition, develop the newest modicum of mental electricity, may determine 
the laws which govern these pretended marvels. There need be no con- 
sultation of the musty tomes of magic lore, no wierd incancantations, no 
'me wings of brindled cats,' no calling up of venerated spirits. Humbug 
the humbugs. "SHADRACH BARNES." 

The following extracts, from communications, by the same spirited writer, 

for the New York Express, will interest the reader. Shadrack Barnes 

proves himself fully competent to " try the spirits," and to develop results 

perfectly satisfactory to all save those who are hyper-credulous, and 

who are, unfortunately, committed in their belief in this astonishing 

humbug : — 

* For the ultimate purpose of eliciting truth, it became necessary to make 
use of the pro tern, deception I have described. Finding how readily cor- 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 49 

rect hints were appropriated, false ones were tried. The story of the 
drowned sister, and the anxiety of the family, and all that, were fabrications, 
designed to show, which they certainly do, that if inducements are held out 
to deceive, these 'spirits' avail themselves of them; that the information they 
afford is according to the knowledge of the Rappers, that the answers are 
their answers, and that these revelations and marvelous manifestations are 
not such a long way 'above the controul of the ladies as many suppose. 
All these rappings were on the floor, and in the immediate vicinity of 
Mrs. B.'s feet. The rappings were single, differing from those of the Fox 
family.* 

" St. Paul would not rap on the table, nor in any locality except beneath 
the feet of the lady. 

" Upon mentioning these facts to a gentleman who was a firm believer in 
these revelations, and well acquainted with the ' medium,' I was told that 
I had been deceived by lying ' spirits.' some ' goblins damned' — who had 
stole the Every of the apostle for the occasion ! Certainly the lying is suf- 
ficiently apparent. This plan of ascribing incorrect replies to lying, irregu- 
lar, and discordant spirits, is a common and convenient subterfuge. That 
' lying spirits' could so readily assume the style and name of St. Paul as to 
deceive the Medium, and those faithful exponents, the Doctor and friend, 
is indeed strange ! There was no hiatus between the communications con- 
cerning the drowned sister, and those elaborate accounts of the manners 
and customs of the Spirit World. The former portion of the session was 
regarded as conclusive evidence of the reality of the spiritual mission. 
These considerations derive some importance just now, from the fact that it 
is said a book of * Spiritual Expositions,' derived from St. Paul, with this 
same lady as a ' medium,' is about being published, and I believe something 
of the kind from this source has already been printed. It becomes, there- 
fore, a matter of grave investigation how far we shall be able to distinguish 
those ' gems from the spirit world,' so abundantly vouchsafed by the ' coun- 
terfeit presentments,' from the veritable revelations of him ' who fought the 
beasts at Ephesu's.' 

" The Fox family, while in this city, were humbugged in a manner simi- 
lar to that detailed above. Some more management was required. Foxes 
are proverbially on the look out for traps. Their long experience had 
learned them to be on the qui vive. They had the first intimations that 
disembodied spirits could communicate with the living by audible sounds ! 
It was in this family that the ghost of that ' pedlar who was buried in the 
cellar, first made his complaint, and who would not rest until the neighbors 
dug for his bones ! ' The pale, cadaverous man who officiated as door- 
keeper at the hotel, was furnished with a few hints in regard to a deceased 
sister. As this was my first appearance with * Spiritual Rappers,' some 
general survey was requisite. But when it was my turn to make the usual 
interrogatory, ' Will the spirit converse with me ? ' I got no answer — the 
time for the ' Session' expired, the spirit rapped 'Done,' and I was but little 
wiser. So three sessions passed. Each day the door-keeper, when he took 
the dollar, informed me that most persons obtained some communication ; 
and he thought I must ultimately succeed in getting a reply to my queries. 
The fourth session had already passed without any more demonstrations 

* We have lately met with a case in which the sounds on the knee were produced, 
not by a lateral displacement, but by a movement backward and forward. In this case 
the knocking is single. — Ed. Buff. Jour. 



50 DISCOVERT OF THE 

than before ; the spirits had rapped out ' Done,' and the ladies were about 
leaving the table to call for the rappings on the door as was their custom ? 
when my faithful door-keeper came in. and asked if I had received answers 
to my inquiries. He was answered negatively. ' Well,' said he, addressing 
the ladies, ' if this gentleman is ever going to have answers, I should think 
it high time.' He then wished me to put the question again. This was 
done with much humility, and I need not add, with much faith, and a 
prompt rap, rap, was the reply! Ques.- — 'Will the spirit of my sister con- 
verse with me ? ' Two raps. To make all sure, — ' Is this the spirit of my 
departed sister ? ' Two raps. By writing down figures, I learned that she 
was 27 years old at the time of her death. This number, 27, was obtained 
by peculiar intonation, and was the age agreed upon with a friend who 
went with me. I asked if spirits could move from place to place, if they 
could converse, and was answered in the affirmative. Ques. — ' Are these 
spirits acquainted with the spirits who make the manifestations at the house 
of Dr. Phelps, at Stratford, Conn.' Ans. — Two light raps. 

" A gentleman called attention to the fact that this response was by faint 
rapping, and Mrs. Fish said it meant they were slightly acquainted. With- 
out being able to discover the relation between slight rapping and slight 
acquaintance, I must conclude this is the correct explanation. 

" Ques. — Are these spirits acquainted with the spirits who rap at the 
house of Mr. Salsbury, in Mina, Chatauque county, of this state. Answered 
by two raps. 

" This is the first I had heard of such demonstrations at this place. The 
name and abiding place of Mr. Salsbury were alike portions of a pious fraud 
to * try the spirits.' 

" The moving chairs and tables, and other physical demonstrations, I 
believe, was not attempted by the Foxes while in this city. It must not be 
forgotten, that whenever this thing takes place, it is customary for spirits to 
call for the ' dark circle.' The lights must be extinguished ! Believers 
answer the cavils of the worldly, in regard to this ' dark circle,' by saying 
they are instructed by the spirits, that these demonstrations require a visi- 
ble appearance of the ghostly power that produces them, and as the world 
is not yet prepared for their appearance, the darkness is a requisite. Yet 
many of the faith say they have seen tables and chairs moved in broad 
daylight ! but they make no mention of the visible appearance which the 
spirits declare to be a necessary concomitant." 

As evidence that these denizens of the " upper deep " can be led along, 
" sold " and humbugged as readily as the " earth earthy," I give you the 
following: — In company with two friends, I attended by invitation, a "spi- 
ritual session" at the house of a gentleman in Brooklyn. Mrs. Benedict 
was the " medium." We agreed upon a plan to " try the spirits " before- 
hand. The substance of which was, to act on the doctrine of " similia 
similibus — humbug those who attempted to humbug us. I was to be a 
believer; my friends, open to conviction, willing to examine. When we 
were ushered into the presence we were very fortunate in finding the 
ground unoccupied. The worthy Doctor in whose dwelling these marvels 
transpired, was a firm believer. He ga\ e us an account of the strange de- 
velopments and extraordinary sayings of the spirits, which of course we 
swallowed without hesitancy. 

As soon as we were seated around a table, profound silence for a few 
moments was observed, in order to give the spirits an opportunity of 



SOURCE OP THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 51 

coming around, then a few faint rappings were heard, immediately in the 
vicinity of Mrs. B.'s feet. The Doctor then asked in a lugubrious tone, if 
spirits were present, and more indefinite rapping was the reply. This, 
however, was so vague and unreliable that another time of profound 
silence was required. During this time of stillness our Doctor received 
two or three shocks, apparently so violent that he nearly leaped out of his 
chair. This was a strong attack upon our gravity, but by biting lips, &c, 
we managed to live through it, and maintain our faces with the most be- 
soming longitudinally. 

The spirits, however, were not inclined to converse freely with the Doc- 
tor, and at his suggestion, I asked if the spirit would converse with me. 
The reply was three distinct raps, which with this " medium " means Yes. 
Question — " will the spirit of my sister converse with me f" No answer. 
Question — "will any spirit converse with me?" Answer — three raps. 
The Doctor said this was Paul ; he knew the raps ! To be sure of it I 
asked—" is it the spirit of St. Paul ?" Three raps. Question — " is the 
spirit of St. Paul acquainted with the spirit of my sister ? Three raps. 
Question—" will the spirit communicate with me for my sister ?" Three 
raps. Question — " will the spirit of St. Paul inform me of the manner of 
my sister's death ?" There was no reply, and without pressing the ques- 
tion, I remarked casually with much apparent sincerity, that my sister was 
lost on the steamboat Erie which was burned a few years since on Lake 
Erie, near Silver Creek; that our family had felt much anxiety to know 
the circumstances attending her death. 

The Doctor wished to know if the body was ever found, and was an- 
swered in the negative. Question — "will St. Paul inform me of the man- 
ner of my sister's death ?" Answered by a succession of raps which was 
interpreted as a call for the alphabet. The alphabet was repeated, and 
the Apostle to the Gentiles spelled out "jumped overboard!" Question — 
" was she in company with any one ?" Three raps. Question — " if I call 
the names of several persons, will the spirit indicate by a rap, when 1 
mention the right one ? Three raps. " Was it Julius Holmes ?" Three 
raps. "Did she leap into the water at his request?" Three raps. 
" With him?" Three raps. Question — "were they engaged to be mar- 
ried ?" Three raps. Question — " what was the age of my sister at the 
time of her death?" The "spirit" did not seem inclined to reply, and I 
took occasion to ask one of my friends, very casually, if he "remembered 
how old Clarissa was?" he said 21. I corrected him; positively avering 
her true age to be 23, and the spirit settled all doubt by promptly rapping 
23! 

I may mention here what the reader has already anticipated, that this 
drowned sister of mine was a creature of the imagination. 1 never had a 
real sister, and the gallant Julius Holmes, who leaped with his betrothed 
from the burning wreck into the waves, is as shadowy as the most ethe- 
rial phantom. A grave looking man, who it seems was an amateur in this 
kind of " Spiritual Philosophy," now came in and plied the good Saint with 
divers queries of an ethical and religious nature. Many of these questions 
I put myself, and in all cases prompt replies were given. 

In answer to questions, or rather in most cases by rapping assent to 
what the Doctor would say, much " wisdom in solid chunks " was given 
forth. Thus, (Doct. loquitur,) I suppose spirits constantly progress in the 
world of spirits, (rap, rap, rap.) They hold communion with each other, 



52 DISCOVERY OF THE 

(rap, rap, rap.) In their own sphere ? (rap, rap, rap,) and instruct each 
other, (rap, rap, rap,) and instruct and guide those in the sphere below, 
(rap, rap, rap,) and attract them to the higher spheres, (rap, rap, rap,) and 
so on. Question — can spirits move from place to place ? Three raps. 
How ? by attraction ? Three raps. Through the nervous fluid ? Three 
raps. Question — do spirits know the thoughts of the living. Three raps. 
And do they suggest thoughts? Three raps. Question— are they ac- 
quainted with the feelings, motives, and wishes of those who interrogate 
them ? Three raps. Doctor — and I suppose they commonly sympathize 
with those they have left behind, (rap, rap, rap,) communing with them, 
(rap, rap, rap,) and they feel for them in their afflictions, (rap, rap, rap.) 

We learned also that spirits never sleep, that they never feel the pas- 
sion of revenge, nor anger. The Doctor and his friend were much aston- 
ished at the wonderful wisdom evinced by the answers of the spirit. They 
made many comments. 

Question. — " Are there any spirits in the world of spirits who are any 
more miserable than they were here ?" Alphabet called for and an an- 
swer spelt out — " They suffer in mind until they are submissive to the love 
of truth." This reply, especially, called forth the most extravagant enco- 
miums. It was a remarkable answer, such a volume of thought in so few 
words! Of course, we gave our assent, — "they suffer in mind,"- — mark 
that, " in mind." 

Question. — " Do spirits require sustenance or nourishment." Answer 
spelled out — "Light, harmony, and an increase of wisdom!" Another 
gem from the spirit world ! Was there human being who could answer 
thus? 

Many other sayings of the spirit were duly chronicled and commented 
upon. 

One of my friends asked a question which the spirit did not answer. 
He desired to know if the spirit could inform him what it was he had lost 
a few days since — something he prized highly — " could the spirit tell what 
it was?" No answer was given; the transition to such earthly considera- 
tions was too sudden. So my friend intimated that he doubted the reality 
of these marvels! Then the "spirit was grieved," we got no more com- 
munications, and he only consented reluctantly to " bid the gentleman good 
bye," by a few courteous raps. 

SHADRACH BARNES. 



THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC THEORY ! 



Some who have become interested in the Rochester Knochings are in- 
clined to refer them to an electro-magnetic influence. The anatomical 
explanation, it would seem, is altogether too simple to be credited. The 
claim of being spiritual manifestations exceeds somewhat the amplitude of 
their credulity, but they are persuaded there is some mysterious agency 
involved in the production of the sounds, and it better suits their love of the 
marvelous, to imagine that an imponderable force, aside from the will and 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 53 

the muscles, is necessary to the exposition. The following article from the 
Daily Express of this city, contains a series of propositions developing the 
electro-magnetic theory, which we insert as a curiosity in its way. It will 
not be expected by the reader acquainted with the rudiments of the branch 
of physics treating of electricity and magnetism, that the merits of the 
theory will be gravely discussed : — 

The Phenomena of the " Rochester Knockings." We visited the 
room of the Rappers during their sojourn in this city — not for the purpose 
of investigating it in its scientific relations, or of believing in its relation to 
the spirit world — but from a native Yankee curiosity to see the Rappers, 
hear the noises, and then guess how it is done. From our observation, we 
are rather heterodox in regard to the anatomical expose of the Medical 
Faculty of the University of Buffalo. It is scarcely within the range 
of our credulity to believe, after what we have seen and heard, that 
the sounds proceed from dislocated joints or the rapping of distended and 
contracted ligaments — and we are equally incredulous as to their being 
manifestations from the Spirit World — and what they are, or whither 
they come — we leave for future discussion when we have more time and 
have given the subject a more thorough investigation. 

There are those among us, aside from the Medical Faculty, who firmly 
believe that they have discovered the phenomena of the "knockings." — 
They attribute it to animal electricity, or magnetism, and in the exercise 
of faith we think, rather exceeding the Professors — and at the same time, 
like the Professors, emphatically disclaim all belief in the existance of any 
spiritual agency. — Like all other infantile efforts to develop science or 
evolve new theories, the believers in animal electricity groping their way 
to the full light of public confidence, unaided by any decisive experimental 
manifestations to serve as tapers in their pathway. It is due to the 
believers in this new theory of " Knocking," that they should afford the 
public " the reason for the hope that is in them," in this regard, and we 
give the following suggestions or propositions from a gentleman who has 
been a close observer of the Rappings, and has examined the subject with 
the sole desire of satisfying his own mind what agents produce the sounds 
and manifestations. 

1st. That all men receive and evolve E'ectricity. Some more — some 
less. 

2d. Some men have power to retain, and evolve, this fluid, in greater or 
less degree, by act of their own will. In a modified form, in the human 
body, it is vulgarly called Animal Magnetism. 

3d. The habit of controlling or evolving this fluid increases the power to 
do so. 

4th. It is a modified form of Electricity that is the agent in producing 
the various magnetic phenomena. 

5th. Some men are charged with this subtle fluid beyond their ability to 
retain, and it escapes when they are in the vicinity of conductors. It does 
not require absolute contact with conductors, but passes through air a lim- 
ited distance. 

6th. When this fluid escapes, and passes into any sounding substance, it 
makes a detonation. 



54 DISCOVERT OF THE 

7th. Some men are charged positively, some negatively with electricity.. 
Two persons charged, one positively and the other negatively, by standing; 
near each other, will produce rapid movement of the electric fluid, and if a 
circle is made, an electric battery will be formed, of which they are the op- 
posite poles. 

8th. In the battery thus formed the fluid is under the control of, 

First — The positively charged person. 

Secondly — The person to whom the power is transferred by will of the 
first. 

9th. That the imaginary conversation with departed spirits, is a mode of 
exercising this power when transferred. 

10th. That the answers are the detonations produced by the electro- 
magnetic fluid, discharging itself against or into the sounding substance, 
and the discharge is at the will of the questioner, when he expects, desires, 
or firmly wills an answer. 

11th. In this way the phenomena of question and answer are explained,, 
and are demonstrated to be subject to the laws, and liable to all the mis- 
apprehensions of Animal-Magnetism or Clairvoyance. 

12th. So far as regards the movement of chairs, tables, &c, it is only 
necessary to admit that Electricity (Animal or Material) is a motive power,, 
and can be made subservient to the will to conceive that it may produce 
the results claimed. 

An ingenious friend expresses his unqualified admiration of the above 
theory (like the old romances founded on fact) and regards its applications 
to the phenomena of rapping as among the most trifling of its merits. He 
suggests a great number of others, out of which we give two or three as 
specimens. Truly we are a great people, and live in the 1 9th century ! 

By selecting eight or ten strongly electrical persons and arranging them 
in a circle, with hands grasped right and left, like the connexions in a 
Grove's battery, a living circuit is obtained, which may be substituted for 
the cups in the Telegraph, and will produce animal electricity of such ten- 
sion and force, as to pass through wires several hundred miles in length, 
and work at the most distant stations the machines of Morse, Bain, or House, 
at a greatly reduced cost ! It is probable that a single individual, if of a 
very nervous temperament, after sufficient practice, might be able, by a 
strong effort of the will and without any aid from the battery, to send his 
own message directly through the wires ! It has been suggested that for 
telegraphic purposes very wiry persons would be found preferable ! 

A caveat for this invention has been filed at Washington, with the inten- 
tion of taking out a patent when it is perfected. The proceeds of the sale 
of the patent right are to be divided equally between ourselves and the au- 
thor of the suggestion, we taking the larger half, as is usual in such cases ! 

If eight or ten persons are arranged as above, on placing another indi- 
vidual between the extreme right and left — the poles at the distance of 
about two feet — he will experience a very severe shock, when, by the 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 55 

electrical accumulation, the extensor muscles of the positive and negative 
poles are suddenly put in motion. If any one doubts this fact, we are ready 
to prove it on him, by a practical demonstration — by what may be termed 
literally a knock down argument. 

Indeed the same thing may be verified still more simply, by first tying 
the doubters hands behind his back, and then bringing both fists with great 
force against each side of the head, in the region of the temporal bone. 
The effect which follows is not, of course, to be ascribed to the momentum 
or motion ; but to that which produces the motion, viz., the electricity. It 
is a well known fact, that heavy charges of this fluid, such as a flash of 
lightning, are capable of knocking down men, and even tearing to pieces 
the most substantial buildings, directly and without the agency of any other 
substance ; and it should not be regarded as strange, therefore, that they 
should be able to do it through the intervention of another force. 

Still more beautiful is the application of these principles to the science and 
art of education. Is a scholar lazy or dull ? A deficiency of electricity is 
the cause : and instead of being scolded and lectured (remedies of acknow- 
ledged inefficiency,) the plain indication is to supply the deficient force and 
to charge the system with the lacking electricity. The common electric 
machine will accomplish this, if turned long enough, or it may be effected 
still more readily by electrified medicines, such as galvanic rings, pills, and 
plasters. The bodily vigor and courage of the knights of romance (errone- 
ously ascribed to their rough mode of life and temperance) is, without doubt, 
due to their habit of wearing steel and iron armor, the metalic electricity 
generated by which, like a universal galvanic belt, supplied the nervous 
force, which makes their feats of strength and endurance fables to the men 
of this generation. Should the method suggested fail with the dullest boys, 
the teacher may, by a strong effort of the will, send a shock across the room 
against the head of the unlucky urchin, with a loud "detonation" or report, 
which will serve the double purpose of directly quickening the dormant 
energies of the culprit, and of indirectly opening the eyes and ears of the 
other pupils. In case again this should fail, he may apply the electricity 
through the muscles of the right arm, by directing the palm of the hand or 
the fist forcibly against the side of the dull head, or by the intervention of 
a ruler or twig of birch. The discovery of this last method is due to that 
old Hebrew, King Solomon, a man who looked deeply into the causes and 
reasons of things, and who was very wise for the age in which he lived ; 
but there is no evidence that he understood animal magnetism and electri- 
city, or was therefore acquainted with the mode in which his remedy works 
he cure. 



56 DISCOVERY OF THE 



THE COCK-LANE GHOST. 



Fancied visitations of spirits have generally been predicated on mysterious 
noises produced with, the design oi deception, or otherwise ; and numerous 
stories might be gathered of delusions that have prevailed, more or less, 
until the strange sounds supposed to involve a spiritual agency have been 
traced to their true source, and their origin explained. In connection with 
the Rochester knockings the inquiry arises, whether noises of the same 
description have entered into impositions of a similar character heretofore 
practiced. Our acquaintance with the history of humbugs is not sufficient to 
authorise us to say in how far the imposture which we have exposed is 
entitled to the merit of originality. We take it, however, to possess novelty 
from the fact that if many instances had occurred in past time, they would 
have been sought out, as means either of confirming, or disproving the spiritual 
claims of the hnocTcings. One instance, however, must be familiar to most 
of our readers by the title at least. The imposture of the " Cock-lane 
Ghost," which occurred nearly a century ago in London, resembles, in 
several particulars, that which has lately emanated from Rochester. The 
Ghost of Cock-lane manifested itself by knocks, and communications with 
it were held through their intervention. The knocking spirit accompanied ex- 
clusively one person, a young girl, and the knocks were only made while she 
was in bed. She was the " medium " according to the modern nomenclature. 
The bed was observed to shake violently when the rapping occurred, which 
was considered to be the effect of the spiritual presence ! This imposture 
occurred during the life of the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson, who, it is 
well known, with all his learning and intellectual acumen, evinced, on some 
points, a superstitious turn of mind. He was thought, at first, to be some- 
what inclined to give credit to the apparition ; afterward, however, he 
assisted in detecting the deception, and published an exposition in the 
newspapers. 

The reader of the foregoing pages, who is not already familiar with the 
Cock-lane Ghost story, will be interested in it from the points of similiarity 
already referred to. We, therefore, give it at length, as related in a work 
entitled Memoirs of extraordinary delusions, by Charles Mackay.* The 

* In two vols., 12mo., published by Lindsay & Blakeston, Philadelphia, 1850. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 57 

real source of the mysterious noise in this famous instance appears never 
to have been understood. Mr. Mackay says, " the precise manner in which 
the deception was carried on has never been explained." He is disposed 
to think that the knocking was made on the wall by the mother of the girl 
who was the medium of the manifestations. It is hardly probable that 
this could be practiced without detection. By others the sounds were 
thought to be due to ventriloquism. This explanation's not reasonable. 
From the history, we entertain little doubt that the sounds were produced 
by the girl, acting through the muscles, upon moveable parts, as in the 
case of the Rochester knockings. It might be suspected, even, that the 
Rochester rappers obtained the hint of their operations from the Cock- 
lane Ghost. The reader who is satisfied of the verity of the discovery 
of the source of the Rochester rappings will, we think, agree with us that 
the same explanation most satisfactorily accounts for the phenomena in 
that curious instance of imposture, which, although proved to be a decep- 
tion, and the parties severely punished, has remained unexplained for 
nearly a century ! 

The following is the narrative: — 

At the commencement of the year 1760, there resided in Cock Lane, 
near West Smithfield, in the house of one Parsons, the parish clerk of St. 
Sepulchre's, a stockbroker, named Kent. The wife of this gentleman 
had died in childbed during the previous year, and his sister-in-law Miss 
Fanny, had arrived from Norfolk to keep his house for him. They soon 
conceived a mutual affection, and each of them made a will in the other's 
favor. They lived some months in the house of Parsons, who, being a 
needy man, borrowed money of his lodger. Some difference arose 
betwixt them, and Mr. Kent left the house, and instituted legal proceed- 
ings against the parish clerk for the recovery of his money. 

While this matter was yet pending, Miss Fanny was suddenly taken ill 
of the small-pox; and, notwithstanding every care and attention, she died 
in a few days, and was buried in a vault under Clerkenwell church. Par- 
sons now began to hint that the poor lady had come unfairly by her death, 
and that Mr. Kent was accessory to it, from his too great eagerness to 
enter into possession of the property she had bequeathed him. Nothing 
further was said for nearly two years; but it would appear that Parsons 
was of so revengeful a character, that he had never forgotten or forgiven 
his differences with Mr. Kent, and the indignity of having sued for the 
borrowed money. The strong passions of pride and avarice were silently 
at work during all that interval, hatching schemes of revenge, but dis- 
missing them one after the other as impracticable, until, at last, a notable 
one suggested itself. About the beginning of the year 1762, the alarm 
was spread over all the neighbourhood of Cock-lane, that the house of 
Parsons was haunted by the ghost of poor Fanny, and that the daughter 
of Parsons, a girl about 12 years of age, had several times seen and 
conversed with the spirit, who had, moreover, informed her, that she" had 



58 DISCOVERY OF THE 

not died with the small-pox, as was currently reported, but of poison, 
administered by Mr. Kent. Parsons, who originated, took good care to 
countenance these reports; and, in answer to numerous inquiries, said 
his house was every night, and had been for two years, in fact, ever since 
the death of Fanny, troubled by a loud knocking at the doors and in 
the walls. Having thus prepared the ignorant and credulous neighbors to 
believe or exaggerate for themselves what he had told them, he sent for 
a gentleman in a higher class in life, to come and witness these extra- 
ordinary occurrences. The gentleman came accordingly, and found the 
daughter of Parsons, to whom the spirit alone appeared, and whom alone 
it answered, in bed, trembling violently, having just seen the ghost, and 
been again informed that she had died from poison. A loud knocking 
was also heard from every part of the chamber, which so mystified the 
not very clear understanding of the visitor, that he departed, afraid to 
doubt and ashamed to believe, but with a promise to bring the clergy- 
man of the parish and several other gentlemen on the following day, to 
report upon the mystery. 

On the following night he returned, bringing with him three clergymen, 
and about twenty other persons, including two negroes, when, upon a 
consultation with Parsons, they resolved to sit up the whole night, and 
await the ghost's arrival. It was then explained by Parsons, that although 
the ghost would never render itself visible to anybody but his daughter, 
it had no objection to answer the questions that might be put to it, by 
any person present, and that it expressed an affirmation by one knock, a 
negative by two, and its displeasures by a kind of scratching. The child 
was then put into bed along with her sister, and the clergymen examined 
the bed and bed-clothes to satisfy themselves that no trick was played, by 
knocking upon any substance concealed among the clothes. As on the 
previous night, the bed was observed to shake violently. 

After some hours, during which they all waited with exemplary patience, 
the mysterious knocking was heard in the wall, and the child declared 
that she saw the ghost of poor Fanny. The following questions were then 
gravely put by the clergyman, through the medium of one Mary Frazer, 
the servant of Parsons, and to whom it was said the deceased lady had 
been much attached. The answers were in the usual fashion, by a knock 
or knocks : — 

" Do you make this disturbance on account of the ill usage you received 

from Mr. Kent ?"— " Yes." 

" Were you brought to an untimely end by poison ?" — " Yes." 
" How was the poison administered, in beer or purl ?" — " In purl." 
" How long was that before your death ?" — " About three hours." 
•' Can your former servant, Carrots, give any information about the 

poison?"— "Yes." 

" Are you Kent's wife's sister ?" — " Yes." 

"Were you married to Kent after your sister's death?" — " No." 

"Was anybody else, besides Kent, concerned in your murder?" — 

"No." 

" Can you, if you like, appear visibly to any one ?" — " Yes." 

" Will you do so ?"— " Yes." 

"Can you come out of this house?" — " Yes." 

"Is it your intention to follow this child about everywhere?" — " Yes." 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 59 

■ Are you pleased in being asked these questions ?" — " Yes." 

" Does it ease your troubled soul ?" — " Yes." 

[Here there was heard a mysterious noise, which some wiseacre present 
compared to the fluttering of wings.] 

" How long before your death did you tell your servant, Carrots, that 
you were poisoned ? — An hour ?" — " Yes." 

[Carrots, who was present, was appealed to; but she stated positively 
that such was not the fact, as the deceased was quite speechless an hour 
before her death. This shook the faith of some of the spectators, but the 
examination was allowed to continue.] 

" How long did Carrots live with you ?" — " Three or four days." 

[Carrots was again appealed to, and said that this was the case.] 

" If Mr. Kent is arrested for this murder, will he confess ?" — " Yes." 

" Would your soul be at rest if he were hanged for it ?" — " Yes." 

"Will he be hanged for it?"— "Yes." 

" How long a time first ?" — " Three years." 

" How many clergymen are there in this room ?" — " Three." 

" How many negroes ?" — " Two." 

" Is this watch (held up by one of the clergymen) white?" — " No." 

" Is it yellow ?" — " No." 

" Is it blue ?"— " No." 

"Is it black?"— " Yes." 

[The watch was in a black shagreen case.] 

" At what time this morning will you take your departure ?" 

The answer to this question was four knocks, very distinctly heard by 
every person present ; and accordingly, at four o'clock precisely, the ghost 
took its departure to the Wheatsheaf public house, close by, where it 
frightened mine host and his lady almost out of their wits by knocking in 
the ceiling rio-ht above their bed. 



b 



The rumour of these occurrences very soon spread over London, and 
every day Cock Lane was rendered impassable by the crowds of people 
who assembled around the house of the parish clerk, in expectation of 
either seeing the ghost, or of hearing the mysterious knocks. It was at 
last found necessary, so clamorous were they for admission within the 
haunted precincts, to admit those only who would pay a certain fee, an 
arrangement which was very convenient to the needy and money-loving 
Mr Parsons. Indeed, things had taken a turn greatly to his satisfaction; 
he not only had his revenge, but he made a profit out of it. The ghost, 
in consequence, played its antics every night, to the great amusement of 
many hundred of people and the great perplexity of a still greater 
number. 

Unhappily, however, for the parish clerk, the ghost was induced to make 
some promises which were the means of utterly destroying its reputation. 
It promised, in answer to the questions of the Reverend Mr. Aldritch of 
Clerkenwell, that it would not only follow the little Miss Parsons wherever 
she went, but would also attend him, or any other gentleman, into the 
vault under St. Johns Church, where the body of the murdered woman 
was deposited, and would there give notice of its presence by a distinct 
knock upon the coffin. As a preliminary, the girl was conveyed to the 
church, where a large party of ladies and gentlemen, eminent for their 
acquirements, their rank, or their wealth, had assembled. About ten o'clock 



60 DISCOVERY OF THE 

on the night of the 1st of February, the girl having been brought from Cock 
Lane in a coach, was put to bed by several ladies in the house of Mr 
Aldritch ; a strict examination having been previously made that nothing 
was hidden in the bedclothes. While the gentlemen, in an adjoining 
chamber, were deliberating whether they should proceed in a body to the 
vault, they were summoned into the bedroom by the ladies, who affirmed, 
in great alarm, that the ghost had come, and that they heard knocks and 
scratches. The gentlemen entered accordingly, with a determination to 
suffer no deception. The little girl, on being asked whether she saw the 
ghost, replied, " No; but she felt it on her back like a mouse." She was 
then required to put her hands out of bed, and they being held by some 
of the ladies, the spirit was summoned in the usual manner to answer, if 
it were in the room. The question was several times put with solemnity; 
but the customary knock was not heard in reply in the walls, neither was 
there any scratching. The ghost was then asked to render itself visible, 
but it did not choose to grant the request, It was next solicited to give 
some token of any sort, or by touching the hand or cheek of any lady or 
gentleman in the room ; but even with this request the ghost would not 
comply. 

There was now a considerable pause, and one of the clergymen went 
down stairs to interrogate the father of the girl, who was waittng the 
result of the experiment. He positively denied that there was any decep- 
tion, and even went so far as to say that he himself, upon one occasion 
had seen and conversed with the awful ghost. This having been commu- 
nicated to the company, it was unanimously resolved to give the ghost 
another trial; and the clergyman called out in a loud voice to the supposed 
spirit that the gentleman to whom it had promised to appear in the vault, 
was about to repair to that place, where he claimed the fulfilment of its 
promise. At one hour after midnight they all proceeded to the church, 
and the gentleman in question, with another, entered the vault alone, and 
took their position alongside of the coffin of poor Fanny. The ghost was 
then summoned to appear, but it appeared not : it was summoned to knock, 
but it knocked not; it was summoned to scratch, but it scratched not, and 
the two retired from the vault, with the firm belief that the whole business 
was a deception practised by Parsons and his daughter. There were others, 
however, who did not wish to jump so hastily to a conclusion, and who 
suggested that they were, perhaps, trifling with this awful and supernatu- 
ral being, which, being offended with them for their presumption, would 
not condescend to answer them. Again, after a serious consultation, it 
was agreed on all hands that, if the ghost answered anybody at all, it 
would answer Mr. Kent, the supposed murderer ; and he was accordingly 
requested to go into the vault. He went with several others, and sum- 
moned the ghost to answer whether he had indeed poisoned her. There 
being no answer, the question was put by Mr. Aldritch, who conjured it, if 
it were indeed a spirit, to end their doubts — make a sign of its presence, 
and point out the guilty person. There being still no answer for the space 
of half an hour, during which time all these boobies waited with the most 
praiseworthy perseverance, they returned to the house of Mr. Aldritch, and 
ordered the girl to get up and dress herself. She was strictly examined, 
but persisted in her statement that she used no deception, and that the 
ghost had really appeared to her. 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 61 

So many persons had, by their openly expressed belief of the reality of 
the visitation, identified themselves with it, that Parsons and his family 
were far from being the only persons interested in the continuance of the 
delusion. The result of the experiment convinced most people ; but these 
were not to be convinced by any evidence, however positive, and they, 
therefore, spread abroad the rumor, that the ghost had not appeared in 
the vault because Mr. Kent had taken care beforehand to have the coffin 
removed. That gentleman, whose position was a very painful one, immedi- 
ately procured competent witnesses, in whose presence the vault was en- 
tered and the coffin of poor Fanny opened. Their deposition was then 
published ; and Mr. Kent indicted Parsons and his wife, his daughter, Mary 
Frazer the servant, the Reverend Mr. Moor, and a tradesman, two of the 
most prominent patrons of the deception, for a conspiracy. The trial came 
on in the court of King's Bench, on the 10th of July, before Lord Chief 
Justice Mansfield, when, after an investigation which lasted twelve hours, 
the whole of the conspirators were found guilty. The Rev. Mr. Moor and 
his friend were severely reprimanded in open court, and recommended to 
make some pecuniary compensation to the prosecutor for the aspersions 
they had been instrumental in throwing upon his character. Parsons was 
sentenced to stand three times in the pillory, and to be imprisoned for two 
years : his wife to one year's, and his servant to six months' imprisonment 
in the Bridewell. A printer, who had been employed by them to publish 
an account of the proceedings for their profit, was also fined fifty pounds, 
and discharged. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



In the article taken from the Buffalo Medical Journal, it is stated that in- 
timations were thrown out shortly after the exposition was made public, of 
wonderful phenomena, in addition to the JcnocJcings, shortly to be produced, 
These promises, it is currently reported, have been fulfilled. Bells and 
gongs placed under tables, have been rung ; chairs have been moved ; per- 
sons have been pulled about, by invisible hands, etc. It has been seriously 
argued against the correctness of the exposition of the JcnocJcings, that it 
does not cover these subsequent manifestations, as if, forsooth, there was, of 
necessity, any connection between the two classes of phenomena, and as if 
persons engaged in the rapping imposition might not superadd various other 
juggling tricks to help along the deception. As remarked in the article re- 
ferred to, these feats of legerdemain are left to others who have the dispo- 
sition, leisure, and ability necessary to discover and explain the manner in 
which they are done. To suppose that such fooleries involve other than 
physical agencies, is to attribute to spirits a very dignified occupation ! The 
recreations of the higher order of existences, according to this idea, are of a 
very frivolous kind. As a clerical friend has remarked, the character of the 



62 



DISCOVERY OF THE 



phenomena reputed to take place, suffices to disprove the spirituality of their 
origin, for they are beneath the dignity of angel or devil. As tricks of jug- 
gling they are quite inferior to, and certainly not less inexplicable, than those 
exhibited by Mons. Adrien, Signor Blitz, or any of the magicians, so called. 
The latter are exhibited with the understanding that they are deceptive, 
while the former are confined to those already prepared to believe in their 
spiritual causation. Nor is there any thing new in the production of these 
phenomena, and, for purposes of imposition, their being attributed to ghosts. 
The reader who has any curiosity on this point, if he will consult Mackay's 
History of Popular Delusions, will find accounts of similar performances 
carried on, for mischievous purposes, many years ago. The chief difference 
between the modern tricks and those of former days, consists in this- 
while those engaged in the latter were made to feel the majesty of the law, 
the former are well patronized, and thus turn out to be a good money ma- 
king enterprise. It may be doubted whether the credulity of mandind has 
diminished with the progress of civilization, but there can be no question 
that there is a far greater degree of toleration, in respect to such matters, 
now, than formerly. 

The exposition by the three " University Professors," has now been for 
some time before the public, and has called out, as was to have been expec- 
ted, various newspaper commentators. Nothing, however, has appeared, 
calculated to disprove the correctness of the explanation. It would be 
strange if those engaged in the imposition, together with some of those in- 
terested in consequence of being committed in its behalf, should consent to 
yield the field without defending it with such small artillery as they can 
command. To the latter, more especially, the consolation of wasting some 
ammunition should be accorded. With this view of the matter the firing 
(keeping up the figure) will not be likely to be returned, while the reason- 
ing and the facts upon which the exposition rests, remain unaffected. 

That they who have become infatuated with the delusion would be 
speedily convinced, assuredly was not to be looked for. Nothing is plainer 
than that a portion of mankind are determinately bent on being humbugged, 
and that a more unwelcome office cannot be tendered, than to open their 
eyes to the fact of their having been duped. The object of the exposition was 
not to convince such persons, but to prevent, if practicable, the further pro- 
gress of this method of imposing on the credulous. To take pains for that 
end will probably prove a thankless task, but this is of no consequence so 
that the end be attained. 

To some it may seem that it was hardly worth while to interfere with the 



SOURCE OF THE ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS. 63 

continued success of the humbug. 'Let it go on,' it may be said, 'and if 
persons are willing to be duped, it is their own business.' Some, even, look 
with a lenient eye on the deception, because it is so cleverly conducted, and 
has eluded detection so long. Even an imposture appeals to the sympa- 
thies of many when it is carried on with boldness and singular address. 
These apologies might be less out of place if made in behalf of an ingenious 
hoax, got up in mere merriment, and which possibly would even prove use- 
ful in gauging the gullibility of society. But this is something more than a 
clever joke. Aside from the audacious blasphemy of the pretended com- 
munications with invisible spirits, it is a matter affecting profoundly the 
minds of not a few of those whose faith in the spiritual origin of the sounds 
is secured. And this result is contemplated in the imposition. Witness 
the rules of order [see page 33] in which the same solemnity which should 
characterize religious meetings, is enjoined. Insanity and suicide are among 
the effects already developed. An incident occurring at one of the sessions 
in this city, may serve to illustrate the heartless cruelty of some of the reve- 
lations. A mother, who had lost a child by drowning, goes to make inqui- 
ries of the departed spirit. The mode of death is correctly designated ; then 
follow the questions ' was the child thrown into the canal ?' ' was it done in 
anger ?' to each of which an affirmative answer is returned. The person 
thus accused of homicide, is afterward designated among a list of names ; 
and the lady then remarked that the person designated had been suspected 
by her of throwing her child into the canal. She left the room apparently 
in the full persuasion that her child had been wilfully destroyed through 
the agency of the child of a neighbor. Assuming, as we may do, that the 
sounds by which this information was communicated, were voluntary on the 
part of those who call themselves ' mediums,' the reader will make his own 
comments on the character of such a transaction. 

Taking the nature and consequences of the imposture into considera- 
tion, none can doubt the importance of resorting to appropriate means to 
arrest it. This can be done by verifying in every place visited by the 
Rappers, the principle involved in the Exposition which has given rise to 
this publication. This principle is, that the sounds are produced by the will 
acting, through voluntary muscles, upon some of the moveable parts with 
which the muscles are connected. The situation of the sounds may be 
different in different cases ; but let an intelligent committee, embracing one 
or more physicians, subject any medium to careful examination, and the 
true source, in every instance, will not fail to be detected. The reader of 
the foregoing pages will have perceived that the Jcnockings may emanate 



64 DISCOVERT OF THE 

from the knees, the ankles, and[ the toes. These sources are to be in- 
terrogated by experiments calculated to prevent the sounds from being 
produced, or to detect the motions of the parts producing them. Placing 
the .medium in a posture in which she can get no fulcrum for the foot, will 
probably prevent all knee manifestations, and if this should chance to fail, 
let the joint be rendered immoveable, the limb being extended, by gutta per- 
cha splints and an abundance of roller bandage. To put a quietus on toe-rap- 
ping let the feet be denuded, and elevated, so that no pressure with the foot 
is practicable. The tendonic movements of the ankle may be seen if the 
part is c losely observed, and if not seen they may be felt, as well as the 
contraction of the muscle on the outer part of the leg which causes the 
movements^. We are inclined to the belief that in most instances the rapping 
will be fourjd to come from one or more of these sources but it is by no 
means impi obable that other joints, or tendons, may be available for this 
species of de ception. 

To prove that the sounds are voluntary, and to point out the simple modes 
in which theT are developed, suffice to expose the imposition, without 
taking the trouble to explain any superadded marvels. If the former are 
due to deception, the latter are equally so, as a matter of course, whether 
explained or not . The claim to supernatural agency rests on the mystery 
of the knockings. This claim would be considered valid by many credu- 
lous minds, so loW as a writer advocating the spiritual origin of sounds 
could say, " men oi e the most acute discrimination have long been engaged 
in the investigation, intelligence and skepticism, sharpened by the 
suspicion of fraud, have not failed to institute every ordeal afforded 
by the resources of science and art, till sensible and candid men have 
been forced to aband\on all idea of tracing the mysterious phenomena* 
to any human devie e." If the principle of the Exposition be ' true 
(and of its truth we have no more doubt than of any scientific 
deduction sustained by irrefragable proof ) the assertion contained in the 
foregoing quotation can no longer be repeated. To establish the truth of 
the principle to the satisfaction of the public, provided the imposture be not 
abandoned, must be left tc> the co-operation of others; and, as respects the 
result, the authors can havfr* no special peisonal interest therein, save what 
pertains to the consciousness \ of having been instrumental in whatever good 
may be connected with it. 



* Quoted from a pamphlet on tM "Rapping;s" published in New York, by a writer 
who signs himself " A Dweller in the Temple.' r 



CONTENTS. 

page. 
Editorial Article from Buffalo Medical Journal, 3 

Notes, 19 

APPENDIX. 

Letter by Prof. C. A. Lee, 35 

Rappings at the Ankle, by movements of a tendon, 39 

Exposition by Shadrach Barnes-Toeology, 41 

The Electro-Magnetic Theory, 52 

The Cock Lane Ghost, 56 

Concluding . Remarks 6\ 



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